Two activists have moved to the High Court seeking to stop government officials from blocking Kenyans on official social media accounts in a case that could redefine how state officers engage with the public online.
The petition, filed before the Constitutional and Human Rights Division of the High Court, argues that public officials cannot use social media platforms to communicate government business while at the same time locking out citizens who question or criticise them.
The activists want the court to declare that official social media accounts used by state officers are public forums and should remain accessible to all Kenyans.
According to the petition, the growing practice of blocking members of the public from official accounts violates constitutional rights, including freedom of expression, access to information and public participation.
The case is expected to attract national attention as social media increasingly becomes the primary platform through which government officials announce policies, respond to public concerns and communicate major decisions.
The petitioners argue that once an account is used for official government communication, it ceases to be a purely private platform and should be treated as a public space where citizens can access information and engage with leaders.
The move comes amid growing complaints from Kenyans who say they have been blocked by public officials after criticising government policies or questioning decisions made by state agencies.
If the court rules in favour of the activists, the decision could have far-reaching implications for Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, governors, MPs and other public officials who use social media to conduct official business.
The case now sets the stage for what could become a landmark ruling on digital rights, freedom of expression and the relationship between citizens and government in the social media age.
