Good morning,
Short-form video hosting service TikTok has become increasingly popular in Kenya in the last three years, with over 8 million Kenyans using the platform.
According to the recently released Reuters Institute Digital News Reports 2023 survey, Kenya is the world’s top TikTok user with 54% of TikTok usage for any purpose and 29% for news.
With the growth of TikTok, there have been calls to ban it in Kenya over it being a contributor to the erosion of cultural and religious morals in society.
The petitioner decries that while the use of the application has gained popularity among the youth in the country, the content being shared on the platform is inappropriate thus promoting violence, explicit sexual content, hate speech, vulgar language, and offensive behaviours which is a serious threat to cultural and religious values.
President William Ruto on Thursday moved with speed to cushion creatives who use Tiktok to make money by inking deals with Tiktok’s global CEO.
In a virtual meeting with President Ruto on Thursday morning, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew committed to ensuring that content is moderated to fit community standards.
During the meeting, Mr. Chew also agreed to set up a Kenyan Office to coordinate its operations in the continent. This means that Kenyans will probably be monitored and moderated on what to share on the platform.
Do you think the move to moderate content in Kenya will tame rowdy TikTokers and bring sanity to social media?
Meanwhile, here are stories making headlines on Opera News today;
Secrets of Ruto, Raila talks with former president Obasanjo
President William Ruto ruled out negotiation on the cost of living during his meeting with Opposition leader Raila Odinga in the presence of Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Nation can reveal.
A meeting between Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition lead negotiator Kalonzo Musyoka and key officials of Jubilee has also brought to light new demands and competing interests that could derail the negotiations scheduled to commence in earnest today.
36,000 teachers to benefit in new promotion cycle
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has advertised 36,275 positions for promotion in line with Career Progression Guidelines for teachers.
In a public notice, TSC Secretary Nancy Macharia says the vacancies are for Chief Principal, Senior Principal, Principals, Deputy Principal, Senior Lecturer, Senior Master, Secondary Teacher I, Headteacher, Deputy head teacher and Senior teacher.
Photos: Raila Odinga Returns from UK to Treat Wife Ida to Fancy Birthday Party at 5-Star Hotel
Azimio la Umoja Raila Odinga has treated his wife Ida to a fancy birthday party in a fancy five-star hotel in Nairobi.
Raila, who has been in the United Kingdom for the past few days to rest, returned to the country to celebrate Mama Ida, who turned 73 years old on August 24, 2023.