Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged Kenyan youth to continue harnessing social media as a powerful tool for driving societal change.
Speaking during a TikTok Live session on January 23, 2025, hosted by Kuira Wa Kabiru, a popular digital content creator based abroad, Gachagua praised young people for their active role in holding leaders accountable through online platforms.
“Social media is a revolution. Long ago, with KBC, you could censor news and only let people know what you wanted them to know. Today, even if you bribe the mainstream media, social media will air it,” he added.
He highlighted how platforms like TikTok and X formerly Twitter have transformed how information is shared, making it difficult for anyone to control the narrative.
Gachagua encouraged the younger generation, especially the Gen Z and millennials, to continue using digital spaces to bring about positive change. He emphasized their potential to shape Kenya’s future.
The former DP urged the youth not to be intimidated by insults for exercising their democratic right of calling out leaders when in the wrong and demanding accountability.
“I am going to encourage young people to continue using social media as a tool of change. Let nobody call you criminals,” he said.
Gachagua also called on the young people to register as voters, calling it a critical step toward creating a better country.
“I want to tell the Gen Zs that I love you very much, and whatever you are doing on the online spaces to bring transformative spaces is not enough, you have a date with destiny. You have so much to do.I want to plead with you to register as voters. You are the ones to bring change. Gen Zs and millennials are the ones to determine the destiny of our country. Thank you for your patriotism,” Gachagua stated.
Clampdown on social media use
The former deputy president’s remarks come amid growing concerns from some government officials about the misuse of social media platforms.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen recently announced plans to crack down on those who engage in illegal activities online. In a statement issued on January 12, Murkomen stressed that breaking the law on digital platforms would have consequences.
“Regarding the misuse of social media, we shall apprehend and charge all those breaking the law. If criminals have moved online, it doesn’t mean that they are immune from the law,” Murkomen said.
He also condemned acts of online harassment, including the circulation of AI-generated images portraying senior government officials as deceased.
Murkomen painted a picture of the emotional and psychological harm caused by such behaviour, urging parents, religious leaders, and politicians to discourage online misconduct.
“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,’” Murkomen explained.
