Information and Communications CS, William Kabogo has acknowledged that the Ministry has not commissioned a single dedicated national assessment in the last five years examining the exposure of minors in Kenya to harmful online content, manipulative digital advertising, gambling applications, and unlawful data processing.
CS William Kabogo conceded the gap, stating that while the issue is critical, no comprehensive, stand-alone study covering all four risk vectors has been completed or published within the period under review.
He emphasized that this does not reflect a lack of concern but rather a fragmented evidence base that has been relied upon in the interim.
Kabogo stated that the Communications Authority of Kenya has since commissioned the University of Nairobi to conduct a national study on child online protection and safety, aimed at filling the identified data gap.
However, in the absence of a unified assessment, the Ministry has relied on existing sectoral reports and regulatory outputs to guide policy direction.
Reliance on Fragmented National Evidence
These include findings from the Media Council of Kenya’s State of the Media 2025 report, the 2022 Distracting Harm in Kenya Study, the National CASAT Quarterly Reports, and compliance engagements undertaken by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
According to the Ministry, these sources collectively provide partial but relevant insight into Kenya’s evolving digital risk environment.
One of the most striking findings highlighted by the Ministry is that 63% of Kenyans are unable to identify content generated by artificial intelligence.
This, Kabogo noted, places a majority of users in a vulnerable position within algorithm-driven digital ecosystems where editorial oversight is limited and synthetic media is increasingly indistinguishable from authentic content.
The Ministry further warned that children are disproportionately exposed, with most engaging primarily through mobile-first platforms curated by algorithms rather than human moderation.
Weak Compliance in Online Gambling Sector
On gambling exposure, data from the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner presents a particularly alarming picture.
Out of 224 gaming and betting firms identified, only 15 representing 6.7% are fully registered. A further 13 are partially compliant, while five operate with expired certificates, indicating significant regulatory gaps in the sector.
Kabogo said the Ministry is currently engaging the Data Protection Commissioner and the Gambling Regulatory Authority in a coordinated enforcement initiative aimed at tightening compliance and curbing unlawful operations targeting vulnerable users, including minors.
