Kenya mandates social media firms to establish local offices to curb online abuse

​​​​​​​By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenya announced a directive Thursday that requires all social media companies operating within its borders to establish a physical presence in the country.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Interior, authorities emphasized the necessity for immediate and decisive measures to counter the increasing misuse of social media platforms, which includes harassment, hate speech and incitement to violence.

The directive mandates that telecommunications providers and platform owners take stronger action against criminal activities online.

"To ensure responsibility and accountability in the face of rising disinformation, social media manipulation, and online abuse, all social media organizations operating in the country must establish a physical presence within our jurisdiction," it said.

The initiative is part of a broader effort by the government to regulate the digital space and protect citizens from the adverse effects of unmonitored online activities.

By requiring social media companies to have local offices, the government seeks to ensure compliance with national laws and facilitate more effective monitoring and enforcement actions.

The directive aligns with previous legislative efforts, such as the Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill, which proposed stringent regulations on social media use, including the requirement for platform operators to have a physical office in Kenya.

The ministry directive follows last year’s protests, which saw widespread unrest, including the torching of parts of the parliament building.

Social media was heavily used to mobilize demonstrators, spreading messages and rallying points that led to significant confrontations and property damage.

The announcement comes one day after Felix Kibet filed a lawsuit at the High Court against X, accusing the platform of enabling hate speech and explicit content. He argued that while explicit content may be acceptable in some countries, such as the US, it goes against Kenyan law and cultural values, demanding for stricter accountability from the social media platform.