By Eddah Waithaka
Francis Atwoli, the Secretary General of the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), has urged the Kenyan government to impose strict censorship on social media and artificial intelligence (AI) platforms, claiming their “unchecked misuse” threatens national stability.
Speaking at a COTU meeting in Nairobi on Saturday, Atwoli a staunch ally of President William Ruto’s administration lashed out at young Kenyans using social media to protest government austerity, corruption, and police abductions.
“Social media users, it’s time you stopped propaganda. You must love your country. If you are not patriotic, investors will flee, and we will plunge into chaos,” he declared.
Atwoli’s call aligns with the Ruto government’s escalating efforts to regulate online speech. Earlier this year, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo confirmed plans to tighten control over platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), citing concerns over “harmful content” and child safety.
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Censorship Under the Guise of Protection
Atwoli singled out TikTok, claiming it spreads “immoral content” and must be monitored. “These children are watching shocking things online. We must act now,” he said. But critics dismiss these claims as a pretext to suppress growing dissent.
The hashtag ‘#RutoMustGo’ has surged across social media and public gatherings, despite a brutal crackdown involving abductions and extrajudicial killings.
Atwoli even praised China’s strict internet controls, where real-name registration, content removal, and platform bans are enforced.
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