Malava MP Malulu Injendi proposes Bill to have WhatsApp & Facebook Groups Admin seek clearance from CAK before forming groups

Why WhatsApp Admin could soon seek clearance from Gov't before forming groups

Mumbi Mutuko

September 24, 2019 8:18 AM

Taming WhatsApp & Facebook Groups

Why WhatsApp Admin could soon seek clearance from Gov't before forming groups

Malava MP Malulu Injendi has proposed a bill that will have social media in Kenya regulated.

Administrators of Facebook and WhatsApp groups will be required to procure licences from the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) before setting up the groups.

Group administrators will be required to inform CAK of their intention to form the groups and shall be required to control undesirable content and discussion on the platform they control.

Why WhatsApp Admin could soon seek clearance from Gov't before forming groups Pulse Live Kenya

In the Bill, Mr Injendi proposed to have users and group administrators who allow offending content on their social media platforms jailed.

Control social media users

Part of the Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill states: “A social media user shall ensure that any content published, written or shared through the social media platform does not degrade or intimidate a recipient of the content."

It continues: “Any person who contravenes the provision of this section commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings, or to an imprisonment of a term not exceeding one year.”

WhatsApp group administrators will have to control their members and kick out those who post offending content.

Bloggers Watchout

The group admin will also be required to ensure that all its users "are of the age of majority" and lockout minors from joining or posting comments on social media platforms controlled by adults.