Govt's New Demand To Social Media Companies Amidst Planned Crackdown On Reckless Kenyan Users
Omollo revealed that his ministry would collaborate with telecommunication companies in Kenya and social media organizations to address challenges associated with the misuse of online platforms.
Marvin Chege 
The government has handed a new task to all companies owning social media platforms used by Kenyans in the Republic, as it steps up efforts to regulate social media platforms in a bid to tackle the growing misuse of digital platforms.
In a sharp statement from the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo urged the platforms to actively monitor the minute-by-minute posts shared, in a bid to filter out abusive and violent content.
“There is consensus among stakeholders I met today that further action is required to ensure a safer digital environment,” he said.
“Platforms 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. Operators must also reassess their content access and use models, including user identification.”
Furthermore, Omollo revealed that his ministry would collaborate with telecommunication companies in Kenya and social media organizations to address challenges associated with the misuse of online platforms.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo during a meeting with telecommunications companies and social media platform representatives on January 16, 2025. /MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
He says the government is coming up with legislation to enforce the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (CMCA) which seeks to secure Kenya’s cyberspace and curb misuse of the Internet. “The outright violations on digital platforms must be addressed through collaborative efforts. There is a growing need to effectively navigate the misuse and abuse of social media,” stated Dr Omollo.
The Ministry, through the National Computer and Cybercrime Co-ordination Committee (NC4), has been actively coordinating efforts to enable a secure cyberspace for the government and the people of Kenya. One of these efforts is the enactment of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Critical Information Infrastructure and Cybercrime Management) Regulations, 2024 that operationalizes the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (CMCA).
He added, “Greater firmness is required from telcos and platform owners in addressing criminal activities online. The increasing trend of individuals using social media irresponsibly, disregarding the limits of free speech, demands urgent action.”
PS Omollo argued that the presence of enforcement agencies would help to increase effectiveness in content regulation and curbing frequent offenders. While highlighting the government’s milestones in fostering innovation and digital entrepreneurship, the PS announced the state would also be seeking to implement deterrent measures against repeat offenders and would also sensitize the public on the good use of digital space.
“Kenya’s robust creative economy has gained global recognition, with the President securing agreements with various platforms such as YouTube, X, and Facebook to enable Kenya’s youth to monetize their digital content,” he stated.
“To mitigate the negative impact of such fraudulent activities, a centralized hub for reporting and sharing information will be established to protect users from cyber threats. A national framework for content moderation and filtering will be explored to ensure responsible access to digital content. We must also implement effective deterrent measures against repeat offenders to curb digital misconduct.”
The government has in recent weeks raised alarm over what it has termed as 'recent cyber activities spreading misinformation and disinformation' aimed at undermining the credibility of the Kenya Kwanza government.
Not long ago, Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen pledged to restore order on social media platforms by targeting individuals misusing these spaces to demean public leaders and spread harmful content.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Interior Ministry announced that social media companies will be required to establish physical offices in the country to enable the government to ensure accountability of the platforms' usage.
The popular platforms targeted include Meta, which is owned by Mark Zuckerberg and has platforms such as Facebook (with 3.07 billion users globally) and Instagram (2.4 billion users globally), as well as X (600 million users globally) which is owned by American billionaire Elon Musk.
The order also affects TikTok, boasting almost 1.6 billion active users each month on its platform, which sits at position five of the world's most monthly active users following Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp & Instagram. Other popular social media apps targeted include YouTube, Snapchat, Linkedin, Pinterest, and Snapchat.
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