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| This decision comes as TikTok’s content moderation efforts in Kenya are undergoing a thorough review. |
NAIROBI – Kenya
Kenyan lawmakers have categorically rejected a proposal to ban TikTok outright, following a 2023 public petition that raised concerns about young users' exposure to inappropriate and explicit content on the platform.
The National Assembly's Public Petitions Committee, tasked with handling public complaints and making recommendations to Parliament, concluded that an outright ban would infringe on fundamental rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression, and severely damage the country's burgeoning digital economy.
Committee Chairman Karumba Muchangi emphasized that social media platforms like TikTok are essential tools for young people's communication, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Instead of a ban, the Committee recommended targeted regulatory measures to address the concerns raised.
These measures include strengthening age verification procedures to better protect minors, localizing Kenyan user data within the country, and reinforcing cybersecurity and content moderation requirements.
The relevant government ministries and agencies have been tasked with implementing and monitoring these improvements, with a progress report expected within four months. This decision comes as TikTok’s content moderation efforts in Kenya are undergoing a thorough review.
The platform recently reported removing more than 580,000 videos between July and September 2025 for violating its community guidelines, most of which were automatically flagged by artificial intelligence tools before users even reported them.