President William Ruto has announced his planned meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Chew amid an apparent escalation in pressure from a section of Kenyans to outlaw the app.
Ruto while speaking in Nakuru stated that he would be meeting Shou on Thursday, August 23, 2023, to discuss various mechanisms to moderate and reduce negative content on the platform.
The Head of State says he is aware of ongoing conversations about the Chinese platform and during tomorrow's meeting, the two will also agree on how they can leverage the monetization of the app that has broadened its reach in the country.
"Tomorrow morning I will be speaking to TikTok CEO. I know we've had a conversation as a country around TikTok. In our meeting, we will agree on a mechanism to moderate the platform to reduce negative content and leverage on monetization that will benefit a lot more just like we have moderation capacities of other apps like Youtube and Twitter," Ruto stated.
The president was speaking in State House Nakuru during the Kenya Music Festival Winners' State Concert.
As of now, TikTok’s future in the country appears more uncertain – but this time, a permanent solution is imminent.
This comes after a petition seeking to ban the app was handed to National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.
The motion by Bridget Connect Consultancy CEO Bob Ndolo alleged that the platform has been promoting vices such as sexual immorality, hate speech and vulgar language.
Consequently, it has been undermining social-cultural and religious values in Kenya.
“The petition decries that while it has gained popularity among the youths in Kenya, the content that is being shared on the platform is inappropriate thus promoting violence, explicit sexual content, hate speech, vulgar language, and offensive behaviour which is a serious threat to the cultural and religious views of Kenya,” Wetangula said.
If not banned, Ndolo, says TikTok could be infiltrated by moral degradation tendencies that could lead users down harmful rabbit holes.
