Nyaribari Chache MP Zaheer Jhanda has announced plans to sponsor a bill regulating social media influencers in Kenya, requiring them to hold degrees or professional qualifications before discussing sensitive topics. Drawing inspiration from recent Chinese regulations, Jhanda aims to curb misinformation by ensuring influencers are accountable and recognized by professional bodies.
On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Nyaribari Chache Member of Parliament Zaheer Jhanda stated his intention to introduce legislation that would mandate social media influencers in Kenya to possess relevant qualifications when addressing professional subjects online. Speaking on the matter, Jhanda emphasized the need for government intervention to restrict unqualified individuals from offering advice on areas such as law, finance, and health.
“I am borrowing a leaf from one of the most advanced nations – China – with a larger population than ours. I am equally going to sponsor a Bill to regulate Influencers. They must have degrees to talk about professional topics,” Jhanda said. He further insisted that influencers should be recognized by established professional bodies, including the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), and the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), to prevent the unchecked spread of misinformation.
Jhanda's proposal mirrors recent measures implemented by China's Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), which took effect on October 25, 2025. Under these rules, influencers must provide proof of expertise—such as a degree, professional license, or certification—before posting or discussing sensitive topics like law, education, finance, and medicine. Additionally, they are required to disclose when content is informed by studies or generated using AI, and they are prohibited from advertising medical products, supplements, or health foods to avoid disguised promotions.
The MP argued that Kenya, facing similar challenges with online misinformation, should adopt comparable safeguards to ensure accountability among content creators and protect the public from unqualified advice.