The Kenyan government is making steps towards stricter regulation of social media and online platforms. Authorities in the country believe that immediate action needs to be taken to control how Kenyans are currently using social media, which simply means social media censorship.
This point was highlighted by Dr. Raymond Omollo, the Principal Secretary for Internal Security, during a meeting with representatives from telecommunications companies and social media platforms.
“The increasing misuse of social media, including harassment, hate speech, and incitement to violence, necessitates immediate and decisive measures,” reads part of a statement from the Ministry of Interior.
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Through the National Computer and Cybercrime Co-ordination Committee (NC4), authorities have declared intentions to invoke existing provisions within the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Critical Information Infrastructure and Cybercrime Management) regulations of 2024, which serve to operationalize the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (CMCA).
Government Coordination with Telcos
However, there is an indication the Kenyan government will not stop there. The Ministry of Interior is demanding that telecommunications companies and online platform owners coordinate more with the government to monitor and regulate content.
“One of these efforts is the enactment of the platforms that must actively monitor and take action against violent, hateful, unbalanced, and unmoderated content. Defining the responsibilities of various stakeholders—whether government agencies, telcos, or content platforms—is essential for an efficient and coordinated approach,” the statement from the ministry states.
To further improve coordination, the government will establish a centralized hub for reporting and sharing information on cyber threats. It will also explore a national framework for content moderation and filtering.
Kenyan authorities are adamant that telcos and social media owners must take a firmer approach to address what they see as a growing problem of irresponsible social media use and online crime. The government insists the establishment of user identification mechanisms by these platforms is necessary. This is a slippery slope as it will likely lead to social media censorship.
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In an earlier statement on X that has since been edited, the government indicated it will mandate that all social media organizations operating in the country must establish a physical presence within its jurisdiction.
Since youth-led protests last year, Kenyan authorities claim enforcement agencies need a stronger physical presence to address the real-world consequences of online activity.
