Francis Atwoli, the Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), has called for the regulation of social media due to its growing misuse in Kenya.
Speaking during the COTU Shop Stewards Meeting held on Saturday, April 5, Atwoli urged the public to reduce their harsh criticism on these platforms.
He warned that continuous abuse of social media might scare away potential investors who are closely monitoring the situation in the country.
According to him, negative content shared online, especially misinformation and propaganda, can do more harm than good to the economy and the image of the country.
Atwoli gave examples of African countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and South Sudan, where unregulated communication has played a role in fuelling conflicts.
He said if Kenyans are not careful, the country could face the same fate. He stressed that love for one’s country should come first and that people must stop spreading false information online.
Atwoli explained that if such actions are not checked, Kenya could find itself in a violent situation similar to what is happening in countries like Sudan and Congo, where daily life has become difficult due to ongoing wars.
He even pointed out how cities like Goma have become inaccessible because of the continued fighting.
He further added that Somalia is an example of a country that has never had a stable government, partly because of internal conflicts that have been made worse by uncontrolled messaging.
Atwoli said that because of all these risks, the Kenyan government might soon be forced to put regulations in place for social media.
He asked President William Ruto’s government to take lessons from countries like China, which has placed strong controls over platforms like WhatsApp and TikTok.
COTU is especially concerned about the misuse of TikTok, particularly by children who access unethical and inappropriate content.
Atwoli mentioned that minors continue to use such platforms without proper control and end up being exposed to content that is harmful to their development.
For this reason, he insisted that it is no longer an option but a necessity to regulate these platforms. He believes it is the only way to protect the country’s children and maintain national stability.
Atwoli’s views are supported by the Director General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Noordin Haji.
Haji recently raised the alarm over the misuse of social media, calling it a threat to both national and regional security.
Speaking at the Mashariki Cooperation Conference in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on April 3, Haji noted that while freedom of speech is important in any democracy, there must be a balance between this freedom and the need for security.
He said that across Africa, social media is being used to spread misinformation and disinformation, often under the disguise of activism or civic engagement.
Haji warned that false information online can mislead citizens and create wrong impressions about governments, which could lead to unrest.
He pointed out that such coordinated efforts are already being seen across the continent and that without proper checks, they could destabilise nations.
Both Atwoli and Haji agree that if Kenya wants to maintain peace and attract investors, it is time to take serious action against the growing misuse of social media platforms.
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