Kenya has given X owner Elon Musk a three-month ultimatum to establish a local office in the country, in a move aimed at tightening regulation and improving oversight of the platform’s operations.
The government has warned that it could suspend X if the directive is not met.
The State says the requirement is intended to curb rising cases of cyberbullying, deepfakes, and the spread of sexually explicit content online. ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said Kenya is stepping up pressure on global technology companies to comply with local laws and accountability standards.
‘For Elon Musk’s platform (X), we have given them temporary operating licences on condition that in the next three months, they must have an office in Kenya,’ Mr Kabogo told the Senate. ‘They must operate subject to our local laws.’
He added that the same approach is being applied to other tech giants such as Meta and TikTok, arguing that local offices would ensure faster response to complaints and enforcement of regulations.
Lawmakers have raised concern over increasing online harassment, cyberbullying, and a surge in AI-generated manipulated media, commonly referred to as deepfakes.
They also cited the spread of sexually explicit content on social media platforms as a growing risk, especially for young users. Kabogo warned that the Communications Authority (CA) would take action against platforms that breach Kenyan regulations, including suspension of services where necessary.
The directive places Kenya in a direct regulatory standoff with Musk, whose estimated fortune of about $826 billion (approximately Sh105.8 trillion) far exceeds Kenya’s annual economic output.
X is owned by Musk’s artificial intelligence firm xAI, while his aerospace company SpaceX controls Starlink, which is already licensed in Kenya as an internet service provider.
Starlink has rapidly expanded in the country since 2023, offering satellite internet services that have disrupted the telecoms market. It has also partnered with local operators such as Safaricom and Airtel to improve rural connectivity and expand coverage.
In addition to its ISP licence, Starlink has received temporary approvals from the Communications Authority to test direct-to-cell satellite connectivity in partnership with Airtel. However, it remains unclear whether Kabogo’s remarks relate to these approvals or broader licensing conditions for tech companies operating in Kenya.
Kenya’s push mirrors earlier regulatory actions against TikTok, which in 2023 agreed to establish a Nairobi office after parliamentary pressure over explicit content concerns. Lawmakers had initially pushed for a ban but later settled on stricter content moderation and compliance requirements.
Unlike TikTok, X does not currently have an office in Africa. Musk closed Twitter’s Ghana office after acquiring the platform in 2022, as part of global cost-cutting measures. However, X later established a legal presence in Nigeria following regulatory pressure linked to a seven-month suspension of the platform in that country.