NIS boss Noordin Haji reiterates warning against critics misusing social media
NIS boss Noordin Haji reiterates warning against critics misusing social media
National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director General Noordin Haji has once again warned Kenyans against the misuse of social media, describing it as a growing threat to national security.
His latest remarks come just a week after he first raised the alarm over the increasing use of digital platforms to spread misinformation, fuel political divisions, and undermine stability.
Haji, speaking at the Mashariki Cooperation Conference (MCC II) in Naivasha on Thursday, April 3, said that while social media has become a powerful tool for communication and activism, its abuse is now a major concern.
He pointed out that online platforms are being used not only for political mobilisation but also for coordinated misinformation campaigns that could destabilize the country.
“Across the continent, we have witnessed a considerable increase in the use of social media platforms for advocacy and mobilisation for civil action. However, this has resulted in the warring emergence of coordinated and sustained misinformation and disinformation aimed at misguiding citizens, leading them to make poor decisions or fostering misguided perceptions of their governments,” Haji stated.
He observed that while free speech is a cornerstone of democracy, there must be a balance between freedom of expression and national security. “Although free speech is vital for our democratic freedoms, it is essential to find a delicate balance between national security and the right to free expression,” he added.
Haji’s warning comes at a time when NIS has been accused of involvement in recent abductions of activists linked to the Gen Z-led anti-government protests.
The spy chief cautioned that misinformation could be exploited by criminal groups and external actors to incite unrest, calling for stricter oversight.
During the conference, which brought together representatives from over 50 countries, Haji stressed the importance of regional intelligence-sharing in dealing with emerging security threats.
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Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who also attended the event, echoed Haji’s sentiments, highlighting how technological advancements have created both opportunities and new security challenges. “Issues of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to spread disinformation, inflammatory rhetoric and perpetuate technology-related threats, even though advancement in technology brings with them renewed security challenges, they also present opportunities for combating them,” Murkomen said.
As calls for “Ruto Must Go” have grown louder, security chiefs issued a stern warning against attempts to overthrow the government through unconstitutional means.
On Thursday, March 27, during a public lecture at Nairobi’s National Intelligence and Research University, Haji and CDF General Charles Kahariri emphasized the importance of adhering to the Constitution for any transition of power.
General Kahariri stressed the need for Kenyans to prevent chaos and division, highlighting the military’s apolitical stance and commitment to the government and the Constitution.
Haji also cautioned against divisive politics, particularly on social media, warning that political rivalry should not lead to national instability and jeopardize unity.
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