The government is seeking to monitor and regulate popular online services such as WhatsApp and Skype.
In the new move that is likely to attract resistance, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) seeks to compel internet-based service providers to share data with the State.
To facilitate the plan, CA has moved to recruit a consultant to study and determine how to regulate over-the-top services (OTTS) run by firms such as Facebook, which operates WhatsApp.
The regulator wants to have some control over the platforms in the same way it regulates traditional phone products such as voice calls and text messages.
“Given that providers of OTTS are likely to gather their subscribers’ data and may not be domiciled in Kenya,” says CA in a statement.
The study by the consultancy will help CA decide on what aspects of the online services it will regulate.
Under the agency's regulation, owners of services such as WhatsApp will be required to adhere to “security and confidentiality provisions” demanded by law.
The increased use of WhatsApp in Kenya has been blamed for the decline in the number of messages sent per month per subscriber in recent years.
Data by CA shows that subscribers on average sent 96.3 SMS monthly between January and March 2018, a drop from 156.8 SMS in the three months to September 2017.
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Watu wengi walipoteza maisha yao siku za Mzee Toroitich Arap Moi juu ya uhuru wa kusema. Kenya ilikombolewa mara ya pili ili tusiwe katika maisha ya kiimla.
Wakati wa ukombozi wa pili, Ndugu Uhuru na Ruto walikuwa wakiimba "...Tawala Kenya tawala..." Watu hawa wawili hawajui vile watu walivyopoteza maisha yao, kupoteza mali yao, kufutwa kazi, na wengine kuhamia nchi za nje ili kuepukana na udikiteta wa Toroitich. Ndugu Miguna Miguna alikuwa mmojawapo wa wananchi waliotoka nchi ya Kenya na kuhamia nchi nyingine. Hata sasa vibaraka walionyamaza siku za Toroitich wangali wakimtesa Ndugu Miguna Miguna.
Ndiyo sababu muhimu Ndugu Ruto asipewe nafasi ya kutawala nchi ya Kenya kwa vile aliishi maisha ya raha wakati wananchi walipokuwa wakiteswa Nyayo House. Yeye pamoja na mwenzake Ndugu Uhuru hawakusema jambo lolote kuupinga utawala mbaya sana wa Toroitich.
Naiomba serikali ya Kenya ya sasa iache kutuchezea na jambo hili la kutaka kujua wananchi wanasema nini kwenye simu.
Mahatma Gandhi alisema, "...There are unjust laws as there unjust men." Ni lazima tupinge sheria mbovu katika nchi yetu.
Wacheni ujinga. Do you know how many apps do the same thing like Whatapps? People will look for an alternative. They will recycle the same old crooks and make them the CS of Whatsapp and another for Skype
A certain ‘chosen dictator-in waiting’is being proactive for the future power grab. Silence the mass and you will be challenged