Kenya Bill Would Bar Under-18s From Social Media Without a Parent's Consent

NAIROBI, Kenya —

Children under 18 in Kenya could be blocked from social media unless a parent gives consent, under a bill proposed by Mark Mwenje, the member of Parliament for Embakasi West in Nairobi, Business Daily reported Nov. 5.

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The Online Safety Bill, 2026, would require platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X and TikTok to use what the bill calls “highly effective age verification or age estimation technologies.” Parents could prove consent through credit card checks, a check of the parent's identity, digital ID, or other methods approved by the Communications Authority of Kenya, which would be the main regulator. A parent could withdraw consent at any time, and the platform would then have to cut off the child's access.

The bill names the kinds of harmful content platforms must guard against, including pornography, material about suicide and self-harm, content that promotes eating disorders, and dangerous stunts or online challenges, according to Business Daily. The tech site Techweez reported Nov. 4 that the list also covers child sexual exploitation, bullying, incitement to hatred, terrorism-related material and serious violence, and that companies would have to assess these risks at least once a year, including how their recommendation algorithms spread harmful material.

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Companies that fail their duty of care could be fined up to Sh500 million or 10% of their yearly global turnover, whichever is higher. Senior executives found responsible could face fines of up to Sh10 million, up to five years in prison, or both. Techweez reported that the executive penalties would apply to those who consent to a breach, take part in it, or are grossly negligent. Companies could appeal to the Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal within 30 days.

The bill also gives parents and guardians a duty to guide and supervise their children's use of the internet and to report online abuse or exploitation to the platform, the Communications Authority, the National Council for Children Services or the National Police Service. A parent would not be held liable just because a child reaches harmful content, Business Daily reported.

Techweez noted that the bill does not require platforms to scan private messages, and said the size of the fines could push companies to remove borderline posts, including political commentary and journalism. Business Daily compared the plan with consent rules in France for children under 15, in Germany for ages 13 to 16, and in Italy for children under 14.

What we don't know yet: The bill is still a proposal. Neither report gave a date for its first reading in the National Assembly or a deadline for public comment, and the text may change through debate and public participation.