Petition To Ban TikTok In Kenya

A petition has been submitted to the National Assembly, calling on Members of Parliament to ban the use of TikTok, a popular social media application. The petitioner, Bob Ndolo, argues that TikTok is contributing to the erosion of cultural and religious morals in society. Ndolo, the Executive Officer of Bridget Connect Consultancy, claims that the app exposes young people to explicit sexual content and promotes violence, hate speech, vulgar language, and offensive behaviors. He also highlights the lack of regulation for internet content in Kenya, making it difficult to control the content on TikTok.

Furthermore, Ndolo states that TikTok invades the privacy of children, leading to scandals, and warns of the addictive nature of the app, which he believes can result in a decline in academic performance and an increase in mental health issues among youth.

In response to the petition, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wa acknowledges the valid concerns raised but suggests that a total ban would be counterproductive since TikTok provides employment opportunities for many young people. Kirinyaga woman representative Njeri Maina adds that banning the app would not address the underlying problems and emphasizes the need for content regulation. Nominated MP Irene Mayaka points out that even with a ban, users can still access similar content through Virtual Private Networks, urging parents to monitor their children’s social media consumption. Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie asserts that TikTok itself is not to blame for the content consumed, placing responsibility on the users. Ndhiwa MP Martin Owino highlights the delicate balance required when addressing moral issues and stresses the need for careful consideration. A committee with view it and provide its verdict within 60 days.

Source: Nation Media