New Bill to Compel Kenyan Facebook, WhatsApp Admins to Seek Government Approval

A Member of Parliament has drafted a new bill that seeks to censor the use of social media platforms in Kenya.

The Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which is proposed by Malava MP Malulu Injendi, seeks to compel Kenyans to seek the approval of Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) before forming Facebook and WhatsApp groups.

The bill requires social media administrators to write to CA informing it of their intention to set up the groups.

Admins will be required to control the type of content members of the group post and they will personally be held accountable for offending information posted on their platforms.

“A social media user shall ensure that any content published, written or shared through the social media platform does not degrade or intimidate a recipient of the content," the bill states.

Social media admins will face a fine not exceeding Sh250,000 or a jail term not exceeding one year for flouting the law.

In his bill, MP Malulu defines social media platforms as "online publishing and discussion, media sharing, blogging, social networking, document and data sharing repositories, social media applications, social bookmarking and widgets."

Additionally, admins will be required to conduct due diligence to ensure that all members are 18 years and above and also kick out members who post offending content. They will also be required to have a physical address and data showing all members of their groups.

MP Malulu further wants CA to register all bloggers in the country and develop a bloggers’ code of conduct.

Kenyans found running blogs without CA's approval could be imprisoned for up to two years or pay a fine not exceeding Sh500,000.