The digital gold rush has turned into a minefield. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has blown the whistle on the chaotic state of Kenya’s social media landscape, revealing a paradox that has left policymakers scratching their heads: the lack of regulation on platforms like TikTok is not creating jobs—it is destroying them.

As the National Assembly adopts a landmark report to tighten the leash on social media giants, Wamuchomba offered a sobering analysis of the "creator economy." Far from being a utopia of youth employment, she argues that the unregulated space has become a hunting ground for scammers, unscrupulous betting syndicates, and data miners who are siphoning millions from unsuspecting Kenyans, leaving genuine creators and businesses in the dust.

Scammers in the Stream

"We are losing jobs because we are losing trust," Wamuchomba asserted during the parliamentary debate. Her argument pivots on the idea that a lawless digital marketplace drives away legitimate advertisers and investors who fear brand damage. When a platform is overrun by fraud and "wash-wash" schemes, the honest influencer selling shoes or comedy sketches gets drowned out by the noise of criminality.

The MP's stance is a direct counter to the narrative that any regulation is an attack on free speech. Instead, she frames it as consumer protection and economic safeguard. The report, triggered by a petition from businessman Bob Ndolo, initially sought a ban but has settled on strict regulation—a "guardrail" approach rather than a "kill switch."

• The "Job Loss" Mechanism: Wamuchomba detailed how algorithmic bias towards sensational, often fraudulent content, demonetizes legitimate work, effectively firing creators who play by the rules.
• The Moral Panic: Beyond economics, MPs across the divide expressed outrage at the exposure of minors to explicit content, demanding that TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, take responsibility for the "digital hygiene" of the nation.
• The Regulatory Framework: The adopted report proposes mandatory age verification, stricter content moderation by locals, and tax compliance for digital earners.

Taming the Algorithm

Speaker Moses Wetang'ula sought to calm nerves, clarifying that the House is not banning TikTok but "cleaning it up." However, Wamuchomba’s intervention adds a crucial economic dimension to the debate.

Kenya is asserting its digital sovereignty. The message to Silicon Valley and Beijing is loud and clear: The days of operating in a legal vacuum are over. If TikTok wants to do business in the 254, it must play by Kenyan rules, or risk being scrolled past permanently.