Kenyan lawmakers are advocating for stricter regulation of TikTok due to concerns over data privacy, mental health, and the platform's influence on young users. This follows a parliamentary deliberation on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, where members highlighted the need to address the impact of unregulated social media.

• Ruyenjes MP Eric Muchangi Karemba and Ruaraka MP Tom Joseph Kajwang’ led the calls for regulation.
• Main concerns include mental health challenges, alleged data privacy violations, and exposure to inappropriate content, especially during late-night livestreams.
• The scrutiny comes after an EU Preliminary Investigation on February 6, 2026, found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
• The Kenyan government has also directed all social media companies, including TikTok, to establish physical offices in the country for accountability.
• TikTok had previously removed over 580,000 videos between July and September 2025 for violating community guidelines in Kenya.