Lawmakers want use of social media regulated

Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso. She is among lawmakers who called for introduction of laws to regulate social media. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The lawmakers said they were perturbed by the amount of unverified information being posted on social media.
  • Nyangores Ward Rep Cecilia Towett was killed in an accident in Narok last Sunday and her death was announced on social media sites catching some family members unawares.

Four lawmakers have demanded the introduction of laws to regulate social media.

Bomet Senator Wilfred Lesan, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso, Cecilia Ngetich (Woman Rep) and Paul Savimbi Bii (Chepalungu) asked the Communications Authority of Kenya to formulate policies that will enable Parliament to enact the laws.

The lawmakers said they were perturbed by the amount of unverified information being posted on social media, adding this was causing unnecessary distress among those affected.

They cited the case of Nyangores Ward Rep Cecilia Towett who was killed in an accident in Narok last Sunday and her death was announced on social media sites less than half an hour later, catching some family members unawares.

“We are not trying to gag social media but it should be used to benefit society,” Prof Lessan said.

The leaders were speaking at Ms Towett’s home in Chepalungu on Thursday where they had visited the family to console them.