The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has put in place strict social media monitoring regulations as it seeks to curb the increased hate speech, ethnic persuasion, and the promotion of radical ideologies across social media platforms despite increased violence and intolerance in the Kenyan political scene.
The regulations include specific directives on the monitoring of online platforms. The issue is very much concerned with online content identification, preservation, and production as evidence.
Addressing the public in a television press briefing, NCIC officer Peris Waweru explained that this tool will help improve the capability of this institution to construct proper cases for culprits because of poor handling of cyber forensic proof in the past.
“One of our biggest challenges when it comes to hate speech cases is evidence,” said Waweru. “The way the law is, you cannot just use a screenshot as evidence in court. You need to have forensics that are sufficient for an offense,”
“The new guidelines outline standardized procedures for the identification of dangerous content, preserving cyber trails, and cooperating with the relevant authorities to ensure that these cases are processed through the proper channels of the law,” she said.
A press release by the commission states that the initiative takes place when the usage of social media platforms has never been higher in Kenyan society. This has led NCIC to note that the content generated by social platforms has been essentially threatening national cohesion, as hate towards ethnic groups has been rising.
Nevertheless, the commission is also very keen to state that these guidelines are not intended to limit free expression.
“Our aim is not to muzzle people,” said Waweru. “Our aim is to ensure that the freedoms under the Constitution are matched with the responsibility to safeguard Kenyans against hate speech,” he explained.
In its advisory, the NCIC warned political leaders, influencers, and social media users to exercise restraint and responsibility on social media platforms. According to the NCIC, the social platforms have emerged as an integral arena in fighting against the polarization of ethnic communities and insecurity as the country approaches the General Election of 2027.
This briefing comes after a statement from the NCIC expressing concerns about the high rate of violent conflicts reported in several regions across the country, which it said threatens the peace and unity of the nation.
Though most of the unrest has been attributed to the poor 2025 short rains, which have further heightened competition for resources, NCIC has warned of further deterioration of the situation due to inflammatory speeches along religious and political divides.
The commission strongly condemned any remark reportedly made by Nakuru West MP Samuel Arama, calling them “utterances of ethnic contempt” that have the potential to harden divisions in society. NCIC explains that any remark on selective distribution of public resources on the basis of ethnic consideration contravenes the values of the Constitution and could be an offense in the Cohesion and Integration Act.
NCIC Director of Investigations James Wanyande called on Kenyans to be conscious of how they behave online.
“It is imperative to utilize social media in a responsible manner and shunned language that may provoke hatred and consequently lead to ethnic clashes,” explained Wanyande. It noted that it will continue to engage various stakeholders in implementing these new guidelines, aimed at ensuring peaceful coexistence not only in cyberspace but in reality as well.
