New bill requires Kenyans to verify ID for social media access

Both new and existing users will be required to verify their ages using their national Identification Cards before accessing social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if a new bill is passed into law. 

The Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Aldai Member of Parliament (MP) Marianne Kitany, seeks to prevent children from accessing harmful sites and subsequently provide the right ecosystem. 

“The society as a whole, including all participants of the Internet eco-system, are responsible for safeguarding the rights of children in their access and use of information, communication and technological (ICT) products and services”, read a part of the bill. 

If approved, Content Service Providers (CSPs) and Application Service Providers (ASPs) will be required to implement age verification measures on all users. 

For that to be achieved, mobile service providers will be required to take specific steps to ensure users of specific SIM cards are fully registered. 

The lawmaker argued that the measures put in place by specific platforms requiring users to input their age are often bypassed by keying in false dates and pseudonyms, making the measures ineffective.

If implemented, Kenya will join other nations that restrict social media access to underage users. 

While a universal system is not in place, some nations have initiated reforms to enhance age-appropriate content.