The war against Cyber-bullying suffered a huge blow last week, with protesting netizens directing their anger on rogue men in blue. While hundreds of netizens took to the streets engaging police in running battles, thousands more took to the internet sharing photos and videos of protests over punitive taxes to make sure that the message was home.
For the men in blue and their plain clothes colleagues, the anger directed towards them was unprecedented, so did business owners and churches which refused to give them refuge something manifested by Gen Z in the name of cancel culture.
The protesters posted the names of police officers, their work stations, their spouses and their children online. The overzealous netizens also shared the officers personal mobile phone numbers.
When the Office of Data Protection Commissioner decided to intervene, they found themselves on the receiving end.
As one X user pointed out; “the level of tech and internet adaptation we have done so far is insane. A GPT explaining the Finance Bill 2024, a USSD, a hashtag we update constantly, database of MPs mobile phone numbers, for traitors, for organisers. It was all done in the blink of an eye, with the famous Tech Bros doing the heavy lifting.”
If the trend is anything to go by, Kenyan netizens will live to their famous billing of being the world’s best bullies. Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta found them too hot to handle and was bullied out of the then Twitter.
On the other hand, businesses which allowed them take refuge in their premises after they were dispersed by police had a different story to tell as they got free marketing and more customers continue to flock their places.
From Kilimanjaro, Java to cosmetic shops, they all got their 15 seconds of fame and new customers.
Creatives who did not take part in the protests got the short end of the stick, while those who did were received with open arms.
They now have new subscribers and are benefiting from the free marketing, which would have otherwise seen them part with some money.
Whatever side you are, make sure you don’t rub netizens the wrong way, otherwise, once Kenyans on X train their guns on you, there will be no fighting back. Just ask one economist David Ndii who was forced to eat a humble pie, or President William Ruto whose Finance Bill is being smoked out.
