Petitioner Wants Parliament to Ban Use of TikTok in Kenya

A petitioner is urging Members of Parliament to prohibit the use of TikTok claiming that it contributes to the erosion of cultural and religious values in society. 

The CEO of Bridget Connect Consultancy, Bob Ndolo, has filed a formal complaint with the National Assembly urging them to ban TikTok in Kenya. Ndolo is deeply concerned with the app's tendency to cater explicit and unsafe content to young people. The petitioner maintains that the popular social media platform promotes vulgar language, hate speech, violent images, and behaviours that pose a threat to religious and cultural norms. According to Mr Ndolo, the unregulated nature of the internet in Kenya makes it difficult to control the inappropriate content being shared on TikTok, which invades the privacy of even children and creates scandals.

Concerns have been raised about the negative impact of social media apps, such as TikTok, on the mental health of young people. However, when a petition was submitted to Parliament calling for a ban on TikTok due to its contribution to depression, anxiety, and sleep deprivation, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa argued against it, stating that the app provides employment opportunities for many young people. Kirinyaga woman representative Njeri Maina echoed this sentiment, highlighting the high unemployment rate among young people in the country. 

Instead of a ban, they suggested regulating the content uploaded on the app. Nominated MP Irene Mayaka also opposed a ban, citing the availability of Virtual Private Network (VPN) that allow users to access content from other countries. She emphasized the importance of parental monitoring of their children's social media usage. Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie defended TikTok, stating that it is the responsibility of users to choose what content they consume.

According to Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino, parents are unable to regulate the use of certain apps as much as they can, and thus, it is crucial to be conscious of these platforms. Although a total ban seems impractical, Owino suggests the implementation of proper control and regulation to protect children. The committee will review the petition and provide their decision within 60 days.