Kenya holds discussions with TikTok on online safety, investment and digital governance

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo Gitau, has held discussions with senior representatives of TikTok in Nairobi ahead of the TikTok Safer Internet Summit 2026, focusing on strengthening online safety, regulatory cooperation and investment in the country’s growing digital ecosystem.

The meeting addressed key issues shaping Kenya’s digital landscape, including content moderation, age-verification systems and measures to protect children and vulnerable users from harmful online content. Officials also discussed strategies to combat misinformation and coordinated disinformation campaigns, particularly in relation to election integrity.

Kabogo emphasized the importance of aligning platform operations with national regulations, including the Kenya Data Protection Act and existing cybercrime laws, to ensure responsible digital engagement within the country.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, Kenya currently has more than 17 million TikTok users, highlighting the platform’s role in supporting the country’s creative economy by enabling youth entrepreneurship, digital livelihoods and online content creation.

During the talks, the government encouraged TikTok to strengthen its regional presence in Nairobi and invest in local moderation capacity, particularly for African languages. The engagement also aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which aims to expand Kenya’s digital infrastructure and promote inclusive participation in the digital economy.

Both sides underscored the need for continued collaboration to support innovation while ensuring safe, inclusive and accountable digital platforms for Kenyan users.