Dagoretti North Member of Parliament Beatrice Elachi has issued a passionate plea for stricter laws to regulate social media in Kenya, calling out users who exploit digital platforms to spread harmful and indecent content. Her call comes in response to what she describes as a rising tide of online abuse, cyberbullying, and disrespect for human dignity particularly during moments of grief.
During a live interview on Citizen TV, Elachi didn’t mince her words as she expressed alarm over how social media platforms, once intended to empower and connect people, have been turned into spaces for cyberbullying, child exploitation, pornography, and gambling.
“Social media is good and was meant to build self, but was not meant for Kenyans to send me your manhood and nakedness because that’s what they are doing to us. We will amend the law,” she declared.
Elachi revealed that even parliamentarians regularly receive disturbing and inappropriate content in their private messages. She stressed that such behavior is not only indecent but also unacceptable in a civilized society.
“For us as women parliamentarians, one day we will open our phones and show you the things we see. Social media cannot be the place where you wake up to people doing sex or sexual advertisements. We will sort that out by amending the law,” she vowed.
The MP also raised concerns over young people abusing their digital freedom, noting that many have resorted to insulting leaders and their peers without restraint. She emphasized that freedom of expression must come with responsibility.
“Your freedom must reach somewhere. It does not mean you step on somebody else’s freedom and say it is right. Freedom has its limits,” Elachi asserted. “If it is expression, it does not say you’re free to express yourself through someone else.”
Elachi Recounts Worst Social Media Experience
Elachi then opened up about her personal pain, recounting how social media became a source of torment during one of the darkest periods of her life; the death of her son, Elvis, in March. Online users, she said, weaponized her loss with insensitive and cruel posts.
“My worst experience is when you talked about my son, whom nobody knew. That was my worst,” she recalled. “Thank God I don’t read social media… but you know, sometimes families come to you and give you a story, and you wonder if it’s on social media. But I thank God I never read.”
Her heartbreak deepened further when she witnessed how the children of the late Kasipul MP Ong’ondo Were were targeted online after their father’s tragic death. Elachi, who was supporting the grieving family, condemned the online cruelty.
“Why would we discuss his children? What will happen to these children when they go back to school? Does anyone ever think of that?” she asked. “That was the saddest thing… we will have to change the law to cushion not just us but many more families who have gone through this wrath.”
She criticized the increasing tendency among Kenyans to post family tragedies online without consent, warning that such actions can have devastating consequences.
“When a family is bereaved, if they have not told you to talk about it, why should you post it on social media?” she questioned. “Don’t you think another one might collapse in that family and die also?”
Elachi Urges Consent-Based Laws
To prevent further emotional harm, Elachi called for laws that would make it mandatory to obtain consent before posting sensitive content especially during times of loss.
“We will have to sort this social media menace out by amending the law. You cannot just wake up in the morning, people are bereaved and you are the first one to break the news online, posting pictures and videos,” she said. “Did you ask for consent? So, let’s put the law that if you wanna do something, just have consent, let me sign the consent that I’ve allowed you to do a video on me. That has to stop.”
Elachi’s emotional testimony echoed sentiments expressed during the National Prayer Breakfast on May 28, where lawmakers from across the political divide joined in prayer, calling for peace, empathy, and an end to digital cruelty.
