Govt to Shut Down Social Media Incase of National Security Threat – CS Kabogo

The government will switch off social media from Kenyans if national security is threatened, Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has warned.

Kabogo, however, remained resolute that the government will not interfere with the social media platforms despite the heavy criticism it is facing.

“Of course, the capacity is there in case we have situations of national security importance. For example, you know what happened to Rwanda when the radios were used for genocide purposes. If that happens, we will switch them off,” said Kabogo, who was speaking in Eldoret after the Annual Data Privacy Conference, commemorating Data Privacy Day 2025.

The National Security Council Act, which aligns with Article 238(1) of the Constitution, defines national security as “the protection against internal and external threats to Kenya’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, its people, their rights, freedoms, property, peace, stability, and prosperity, and other national interests.”

Publishing or broadcasting information that undermines investigations or security operations by the National Police Service or the Kenya Defence Forces as well as the defamation of foreign dignitaries are some of the things considered threats to national security under the Penal Code.

The outspoken CS, however, insisted that the government will not switch off social media platforms despite the viral memes depicting leaders in coffins and abuse being experienced by many top leaders.

“We are not planning to switch off anything. It’s not in our minds. I made a caption on top of that and said the capacity is there,” Kabogo stated.

While addressing the rising concerns about the regulation of digital spaces, Kabogo, on Monday, made it clear that discussions on banning or disabling these platforms were “not on the table at all.”

“I would not envisage or imagine a situation where we would switch off Facebook,” Kabogo said, adding that the topic of banning or switching off social media platforms was far from being considered.

But that has not taken the worries of Kenyans away. The worries stem from the neighbouring government’s actions to either slow internet speeds or completely shut down social media platforms to halt mounting criticism.

The concerns also emerged after the government mandated that social media companies establish physical offices within the country to enhance accountability and address issues like disinformation and hate speech.

This move targets major platforms such as Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) and X (formerly Twitter).

Furthermore, there were reports of internet disruptions during the Gen Z-led protests last year, which many perceived as attempts to curb the mobilisation and communication of protesters.

Such actions were criticised for violating constitutional rights to freedom of expression and access to information. “We need to also tell the guys who own these platforms to be responsible,” Kabogo said.

“We’ve seen how information can cause chaos, whether it’s credible or not. We can’t afford to have people doing things that destabilise the country because of misleading or harmful content.”