Govt Directs Social Media Companies Operating In Kenya Must Have Physical Presence To Curb Misuse

The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Interior, has issued a directive compelling all social media companies that operate within the country to establish physical offices in Kenya.

Principal Secretary for Ministry of Interior and National Administration Raymond Omollo issued issued the directive to all social media organisations.

PS Omollo said that all social media companies operating in the country must establish a physical presence.

The PS said the move will ensure responsibility and accountability in the face of rising disinformation, social media manipulation, and online abuse.

“All social media organisations operating in the country must establish a physical presence within our jurisdiction,” the PS said.

Omollo said during a meeting with telecommunications companies and social media platform representatives on Thursday.

PS Omollo said the increasing misuse of social media, including harassment, hate speech, and incitement to violence, necessitates immediate and decisive measures.

He said strict compliance with the requirement is expected, with telecommunications providers and platform owners required to take stronger action against criminal activities online.

On January 10, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen threatened legal action against youth misusing social media.

Speaking in Uasin Gishu, where he had accompanied President William Ruto for a development tour of the region, Murkomen said social media should not be used to threaten others.

“I want to ask this question to every parent and church leader who is defending this bad behavior and politicians who do not agree with us. If your child goes to school and another student puts a picture of his face in a coffin photo, don’t you think that is a threat? He is simply saying I will kill you,” he said.

The CS vowed that his ministry will charge all those who have been using social media to threaten others.

“If we do not do that, we will not have a country. We want to bring order to our country,” he said.

“We want the church and politicians to support our president in his effort to bring order to the country.”

The president criticised Kenyans circulating social media images depicting senior government officials inside coffins.

The Head of State accused certain politicians of funding young Kenyans to tarnish the reputation of government officials through such posts.

Ruto warned that such impunity had dire consequences, saying it fostered a culture of violence and the devaluation of human life.