ICT CS Joe Mucheru has dismissed reports indicating that the government is planning to suspend Facebook.
Mucheru says the government has no such planning adding that the media, including social networks, will continue to operate without any interference.
"Media, including social media, will continue to enjoy press freedom in Kenya. Not clear what legal framework NCIC plans to use to suspend Facebook. Government is on record. We are not shutting down the internet," he said on Saturday, July 30.
This comes after the National Cohesion and Integration Commission warned that they will be forced to propose the closure of Facebook if they fail to curb hate speech.
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The NCIC was responding to findings of a report by advocacy groups Global Witness and Foxglove which indicated that Facebook had failed to moderate content on its platform due to weak controls.
“If Facebook doesn’t comply with requirements we have set out within seven days, we will recommend they suspend their operations. We will not allow Facebook to jeopardise our national security”, NCIC's Dr David Makori said.
NCIC was established in the wake of the violence that followed the 2007 election.
it does not have the power to suspend Facebook but can only make recommendations to the authorities if the firm fails to comply with guidelines as outlined in the law.
The move had already been met with opposition from a section of Kenyans who gave mixed reactions.
