The Secretary-General of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU), Francis Atwoli, has raised concerns about the growing impact of social media, particularly regarding the way young people are using these platforms to express their anger.
Speaking on Sunday at the 60th annual COTU Labour Day prayer service at ACK St Stephen’s Church in Makadara, Nairobi, Atwoli warned that the unchecked use of social media could lead to chaos and division in the country.
Atwoli stressed the need for stricter regulation, drawing attention to China’s stringent control over social media, including TikTok. “This thing called social media is controlled in China. China has regulated TikTok despite it being their product, unlike here in Kenya,” he remarked.
He also called on religious institutions to play a more active role in addressing the discourse surrounding social media. “The church must speak about TikTok, the church must speak about social media, about YouTube. The church must take the lead,” he urged.
The COTU leader further expressed his belief that the unregulated content circulating on social media is detrimental to the nation’s progress. “The content of social media is not conducive to a nation that aspires to greater heights economically, socially, and politically,” he asserted.
Atwoli also criticised young people who, despite lacking experience in labour organisations, are vocal on social media, often targeting leaders and policies. “Young men on social media have never worked anywhere. They have never been members of any trade union. You will see them commenting about trade unions, about the Labour Cabinet Secretary, and talking about discrimination,” he pointed out.
In his concluding remarks, Atwoli emphasised the need for regulation of the information consumed by young people. Reflecting on past events, he cautioned that without proper guidance, the nation could face serious challenges.
“Every country must go through a rebirth process. Kenya was almost going through a rebirth in 2007, and God rescued us. I don’t know whether God will be with us in the third rebirth,” he concluded.
In China, platforms like TikTok are heavily monitored, with strict content guidelines enforced by the government. This has resulted in a more controlled digital environment, where harmful content is limited, and social media serves its intended purpose without exacerbating unrest.
Atwoli’s call for regulation seems to be inspired by this model, urging Kenyan authorities to adopt a similar approach to prevent the negative effects of unregulated social media.
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