New revelations have emerged, linking former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government to a secret surveillance programme that spied on Kenyan citizens.
According to a report by Citizen Lab (shared by Nelson Amenya), a research group at the University of Toronto, the Kenyan government purchased advanced surveillance technology from an Israeli cyber-espionage firm known as Circles.
The report claims this technology was authorised during Kenyatta’s presidency and was used to intercept private communications without hacking individual mobile phones
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta during a past media presser. Photo: State House Source: Facebook
Circles, which is affiliated with the controversial NSO Group, allegedly sold this system to Kenya and over 25 other countries. Their technology takes advantage of vulnerabilities in the global mobile phone networks to track phone calls, text messages, and the locations of individuals across the world.
Unlike NSO’s notorious Pegasus spyware, Circles’ system works by tapping into mobile infrastructure without directly infecting devices.
The report suggests the spying programme targeted various individuals, including journalists, political activists, and diplomats. This has sparked concerns about privacy violations and potential human rights abuses, as the surveillance reportedly continued throughout Kenyatta’s administration and may still be in use today.
The investigation revealed a suspicious system in Kenya, with its IP address initially geolocated to Mauritius but later traced back to Kenya. It is believed that this system, referred to as “Kali,” was used by Kenyan intelligence agencies to monitor citizens’ communications.
Human rights organisations have condemned the findings, raising concerns about the use of such intrusive tools to suppress political dissent and infringe on civil liberties. Critics argue that this surveillance programme, initiated under Kenyatta, has set a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
There are now growing calls for accountability, with civil society groups urging the current government to investigate the use of Circles’ technology during Kenyatta’s tenure and to strengthen privacy laws to protect citizens’ rights.
