ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has a message for Kenyans who use social media to attack and mock leaders: tone it down.
Kabogo didn’t mince his words when addressing the growing trend of cyberbullying government officials, including President William Ruto.
“We don’t want to think about switching off people because the capacity is there,” Kabogo said.
He pointed out that some individuals have taken things too far, like editing photos of leaders in coffins as a form of protest. “Instead of putting me in a coffin and displaying me out there, why don’t you just tell me what you want?” he asked, calling for a more constructive approach.
This warning comes as more Kenyans turn to social media to air their frustrations about issues like the rising cost of living and perceived government inaction.
Leaders have been on the receiving end of unfiltered criticism, with some resorting to harsh words and mockery to get their message across.
Kabogo, however, isn’t saying people shouldn’t speak out. In fact, he recognizes the power of social media as a platform for dialogue.
But he’s urging Kenyans to be responsible with it. “Let’s use these platforms to share ideas and solutions rather than tearing each other down,” he said.
His remarks have sparked mixed reactions. Some see it as a thinly veiled threat to freedom of speech, while others agree that things have gotten out of hand and a little civility wouldn’t hurt.
The message by the newly appointed ICT CS comes amid the backdrop of reports that the Ministry of Interior has issued a directive to major social media companies such as X, TikTok, Meta to ensure they have physical offices in Kenya.
Also, there is a growing concern as to why social media companies’ owners allow hate speech in their platforms as well as fake news.
