Dagoretti North Member of Parliament Beatrice Elachi has rejected proposals to ban TikTok in Kenya, instead backing a public petition calling for streamlined regulations to protect families, children and safeguard the country’s security.
Elachi spoke as lawmakers considered a petition filed in 2023, which raised concerns that TikTok exposes young people to harmful and explicit content.
While agreeing that the platform has increasingly become a threat to minors if left unregulated, the MP said an outright ban would not be the best solution, insisting Parliament should focus on strengthening laws to ensure users — especially children — are protected.
She referenced a report by the Catholic Church bishops, which called for responsible use of TikTok and warned against content that promotes pornography, sexual offences and misuse of the country.
“We need to come on board and agree that we have laws, and these laws are laws that protect our young people,” Elachi said.
The MP urged Parliament to work on a clear legal framework that ensures data protection is fully covered within regulations, while also addressing broader concerns around national security and safety.
The debate comes as Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee rejected calls for a total TikTok ban, warning that such a move would violate fundamental rights and hurt the digital economy.
The committee instead directed relevant ministries to enhance age verification measures, push for localisation of user data, and strengthen cybersecurity controls, with a report expected within four months.
During the debate, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula stressed that lawmakers have a duty to protect children and families from harmful content.
“This Parliament has a legal and moral duty to protect our children, our families and our country from moral perversion and moral corruption,” Wetang’ula said.
Wetangula explained that parliament has no interest in banning the use of TikTok but has a duty to ensure the social platform is used morally for the benefit of the society.
TikTok has also come under renewed scrutiny after the company said it removed more than 580,000 videos in Kenya between July and September 2025 for breaching its community guidelines.
