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Parliament Supports Proposal to Regulate TikTok: “We Must Be Careful”

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  • MPs rejected TikTok ban and favoured stricter regulations to ensure user protection and support digital growth.
  • The Public Petitions Committee called for enhanced age verification and data privacy measures on social media platforms.
  • The lawmakers urged TikTok to implement monetisation policies for Kenyan content creators to boost local engagement.

Nairobi: Members of Parliament have rejected a petition seeking to ban TikTok in the country over concerns about explicit content, instead backing stricter measures that balance user protection with the benefits of social media innovation and growing the digital economy.

The petition was filed by Bob Ndolo, executive officer of Bridget Connect Consultancy, urging MPs to swiftly ban the platform. He argued that TikTok exposes young people to harmful material, violence, hate speech, vulgar language, and threatens cultural and religious norms.

Will Kenya ban TikTok? In its report on Petition No. 41 of 2023 regarding the regulation of TikTok in Kenya, the Public Petitions Committee ruled out an outright ban, noting it would infringe on fundamental rights and stifle digital economic growth. “A ban of the social media platform would stifle social and economic growth and the benefits of internet connectivity as the nation seeks to enhance its digital economy. However, the Committee recommends that social media platforms, including TikTok, be regulated and periodic compliance reviews by the relevant state agencies be institutionalised,” the resolution read.

The chairperson of the Public Petitions Committee, Karumba Muchangi, noted that the ban on TikTok is not tenable, adding that social media has become an essential tool for communication, creativity, and entrepreneurship. The committee directed the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the Ministry of Information, Communication & the Digital Economy to collaborate on enhancing user protection and cybersecurity.

The two ministries are expected to report to the House within four months on mechanisms for stronger age verification, data localisation, and digital literacy programmes on privacy and responsible use. The ministries would implement digital literacy programmes to promote awareness of data privacy, storage, processing, and social media guidelines. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner was tasked with engaging social media platforms to assess compliance with the Data Protection Act, Cap. 411C, and ensuring that user data is processed under Kenyan laws. The Committee also called for amendments to the Kenya Information and Communications Act, Cap. 411A to empower the Communications Authority of Kenya to regulate social media platforms.

What did Millie Odhiambo say about TikTok regulation? While seconding the motion, Ruaraka MP Moses Kajwang said, “I am glad we are not moving in the direction of banning TikTok; we are moving in the direction of content regulation to safeguard minors.” “As a child protection expert, there are things we cannot negotiate about, and one of them is the issue of explicit content, which can’t be available to young people. We must be very clear about what age can access certain information. We must be brave as a house and confront these issues every single time. There are certain content that should not even reach us. I support the report,” added Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, while pointing out that TikTok has enabled the youth to socialise and gain employment and civic engagement.

The lawmakers also urged TikTok and other platforms to introduce monetisation policies that enable Kenyan creators to earn directly from their content-TUKO

 

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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