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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Odanga Madung

Tortured over a tweet: how the war between Kenya’s Gen Z and their president has moved online

Protesters make X signs with their arms. Those who are identifiable are young men
Protesters make signs with their arms in front of police officers during a demonstration against tax hikes in downtown Nairobi, June 2024. Photograph: Luis Tato/AFP/Getty Images

Billy Mwangi is a 24-year-old student who lives in Embu, 125km north-east of Nairobi. He loves watching football with his dad, likes to hang out with his friends and enjoys playing video games with his brother. He also ran a popular account on X which he used to post about politics from time to time. “I like to defend people” he says. “When Kenyans are not happy I always wanted to voice my concern, because I’ve had political ambitions for a while now.”

On 22 December 2024, as Kenyans prepared for the festive season, Mwangi had gone to get a haircut, before heading to church.

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