Interior PS Raymond Omollo chairing a meeting on January 16, 2025/HANDOUTSocial media platforms have been directed to actively monitor and take action against violent, hateful, unbalanced, and unmoderated content.
In a statement on Thursday after a meeting with telecommunications companies and social media platform representatives, Interior PS Raymond Omollo said the move will help coordinate approach and efficiency.
"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," he said.
The PS said operators must also reassess their content access and use models, including user identification.
He said that greater firmness is required from telcos and platform owners in addressing criminal activities online.
According to the PS, the increasing trend of individuals using social media irresponsibly, disregarding the limits of free speech, demands urgent action.
"Given the real-world impact of digital actions, a more pronounced physical presence of enforcement agencies is essential. Furthermore, sustained public sensitization on responsible use of the internet will be prioritized by various stakeholders to foster a safer online environment for all," he added.
The PS said that to mitigate the negative impact of such fraudulent activities, a centralised hub for reporting and sharing information will be established to protect users from cyber threats.
He added that a national framework for content moderation and filtering will be explored to ensure responsible access to digital content.
Omollo said there will be the implementation of effective deterrent measures against repeat offenders to curb digital misconduct.
The Ministry remains committed to fostering a secure, accountable, and inclusive digital space where innovation thrives while ensuring that technology is not exploited for malicious purposes.
The PS said that as the digital space grows, challenges associated with its misuse also increase.
He said 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 Kenyans.
Omollo added that 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).
"There is consensus among stakeholders I met today that further action is required to ensure a safer digital environment. 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," he said.
He said the ministry underscores the need for strengthened collaboration between the government telecommunications operators and social media organizations.
Omollo said the government continues to leverage Information Communication Technologies (ICTs)as a prime mover in fulfilling its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
"To achieve this, more than 20,000 services have already been onboarded to the eCitizen platform, demonstrating the transformative power of technology in governance, including enhancing efficiency, transparency, ease of doing business, and fighting corruption," he said.
The PS added that Kenya’s robust creative economy has gained global recognition with President William Ruto securing agreements with various platforms such as YouTube, X, and Facebook to enable Kenya’s youth to monetize their digital content.