Francis Atwoli: Social media must be regulated in Kenya
Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has called for social media regulation in Kenya.
Atwoli made the call during COTU‘s shop stewards meeting on Saturday, April 5, 2025, where he 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.
TikTok pointed out
The long-serving COTU top official specifically mentioned TikTok, which he said should not be accessible to children because of its content.
“Kama China wameregulate, TikTok ya China ni yao, sio hii yenu. Ukifungua TikTok saa ingine, na watoto wadogo wanajua kufungua TikTok, na ukiona mambo inafanyika TikTok, sijui kama ni mimi pekee yangu ninaona.
“Unapata mama mzee akitoka kwa bedroom, anajidanganya eti bwana yake amechelewa kuingia bedroom na anakuja vile alivyozaliwa na mtoto anaangalia kitu kama hio.
“Social media must be regulated. Hio mimi ninataka kuwaambia ukweli,” he concluded.
