Advertisement
Gloria Orwoba on why social media should be regulated in Kenya
15th July, 2025 02:55 AM
Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba has explained the reasons why social media should be regulated in Kenya.
Speaking during an interview on the Iko Nini podcast, on Monday, July 14, 2025, Orwoba, who has consistently voiced concerns about cyberbullying and violations of privacy, especially regarding attacks on innocent individuals and exposing personal data, decried the misuse of social media.
She said social media should be regulated because some netizens enjoy dragging innocent kids into social media fights, while others post private photos of their ex‑lovers as revenge.
“No one has the right to keep up a photo of anyone’s child or the details of anyone’s child and bring them to a fight on social media, keep photos of the death out of social media,” she said.
“Posting private photos of ex-partners on social media after a break-up it is not right and it is something that it should not be allowed.Another thing that it should not be allowed is putting people in a casket when they are still alive.”
Orwoba added that while not all posts should be regulated, the issues of minors and cyberbullying need to be addressed.
“Not all things should be regulated, but the issues of minors, dead people. I feel like we should just come in a place and say tufanye jokes zote but can we draw a line, can we not post dead people faces on social media,”she added.
Social media regulation
Apart from Orwoba, Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli had also called for social media regulation in the country.
Speaking during COTU‘s shop stewards meeting on Saturday, April 5, 2025, Atwoli said social media could lead the country onto the path of destruction.
“Kenya is a satellite of economic activities in the region. Hata tukipiga kelele, watu wenzetu wa Uganda na Tanzania wanataka Kenya sana because of the communication systems we have. Hapa ndio kuna banks, hapa ndio kuna kila njia.
“Isipokuwa tu wale watu wetu wa social media. Social media itawabidi mfupishe propaganda, ni lazima mpende nchi hii, msipopenda nchi hii waajiri watahama. Kama si hivyo, mtaanza kulimana,” Atwoli said.
Giving examples of the countries that have descended into conflicts, he said if the social apps are not controlled, Kenya could easily find itself among such countries.
“Mkianza kupigana, tunakuwa kama Sudan, tunakuwa kama (DR) Congo, Congo sasa huwezi kuenda kule Goma, na nchi zingine mingi. Ndugu wetu Somalia, tangu Siad Barre atoke hawajaona kitu inaitwa well-organised government.
“South Sudan, hata deputy president amefungiwa ndani ya nyumba. We do not want to take that route na watu wa social media wanatuelekeza huko. Unajua sasa itabidi, hatukutka hivyo. Itabidi tuulize serikali iregulate social media,” he added.
“Social media must be regulated. Hio mimi ninataka kuwaambia ukweli,” he concluded.
