COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli is pushing for tighter control of social media in Kenya, warning that unchecked online activity could harm the country’s image and economic future.
Speaking at a COTU Shop Stewards Meeting on Saturday, April 5, Atwoli raised concern over the growing misuse of social media platforms, especially through the spread of fake news, insults, and propaganda. He believes this kind of online behavior could scare off investors and spark instability.
“People must stop using social media to spread lies and hate,” Atwoli said. “If we’re not careful, we’ll head down the same dangerous path as countries like South Sudan, Somalia, or the DRC, where online chaos has added to real-world conflict.”
He warned that negative content and false claims not only create division among citizens but also give a bad impression to the international community, including potential business partners.
Atwoli urged the Kenyan government to consider regulating platforms like TikTok and WhatsApp—just like countries such as China have done—to maintain national peace and security.
“We need to protect this country from the dangers of unregulated digital spaces,” he said. “Let’s not wait until things get out of hand.”
