Kenya will now require social media companies to set up physical offices in the country, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration said on Thursday after a meeting with stakeholders in the telecommunication and social media sectors. This move suggests tighter social media regulation in the East African country.

“(We) arrived at a consensus on the need to curb misuse of technology and social media, including harassment, hate speech and incitement to violence, including enhancing physical presence of key operators,” the ministry said in a statement.

The call to regulate social media comes six months after young people in Kenyan led widespread protests against President William Ruto’s administration over the now-withdrawn 2024 Finance Bill which introduced new taxes on essential commodities such as edible oil and sanitary pads.

Social media platforms like TikTok and X played a crucial role in amplifying the protests, allowing Kenyans to livestream demonstrations to a wider audience beyond the physical locations. The hashtag #RejectTheFinanceBill2024, gained traction on X, with over 4 million impressions in the first few days of the protests. Tens of Kenyans lost their lives during the demonstrations, believed to be the longest-running protest in the country’s history.

While subsequent protests were less intense than those in July 2024, Kenyans have turned to social media platforms, particularly X, to voice their frustrations with the government over cost of living and economic hardship. Some citizens used AI tools to create provocative images, some of which politicians called offensive. One of the most controversial trends featured images of Ruto depicted in a coffin.

During Thursday’s meeting, Principal Secretary for Internal Security Raymond Omollo addressed concerns over social media misuse. Despite being one of the few African countries where citizens widely use social media without restrictions, over 80 abductions have allegedly targeted online government critics since June 2024.