BY KEVIN KOECH

Nominated Senator Iman Falhada Dekow now wants the government to regulate the usage of social media app TikTok.

Speaking at the Senate, the Senator accused the platform of collecting user data, location, phone number and other private information.

“There have been serious allegations against the application on the issue of data privacy, the application gathers information on a user’s country location, internet address and type of device if allowed.

“It will also ascertain the user’s exact location, phone contacts and other social media network connections as well as age and phone number,” she said.

TikTok is already under investigation over privacy concerns by U.S. and the European Union over its security.

“The question does arise to the safety of the data that Kenyans unknowingly provide to the application regarding themselves,” said Falhada

“The application has created a culture of violence, hate speech, bullying and exchange of sexually explicit content which in some cases are part of the trending topics with millions of posts.

“This has raised ethical concerns about the app and has contributed negatively to Kenyan society especially during COVID-19 pandemic era when schools have remained closed,” she added.

Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura and Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said that all social media platforms need to be investigated over its privacy and data security.

Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura said that American social media brands have also been sued across the world over data security breach.

“Ukiangalia zile kampuni ambazo zimeweza kuanzishwa kule Amerikani, zenyewe pia zimeshtakiwa katika anga za kimataifa kwa sababu ya kutokua na usiri wa data ambayo wanatoa kutokana na watu wote duniani,” he said

A 36-year-old Kenyan woman has confessed to knowingly infecting several men with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  Speaking during an interview with Lynn Ngugi of Tuko News, Jackline Njoki Mwangi, alias Kiki wa Ng’endo, said she contracted HIV after having sex with a man who did not disclose his status to her. Out of bitterness, she embarked on a revenge mission to infect other men who opt to sleep with her without using condoms.

“At the end of the day, I cannot be your keeper. You know you do not know me, I am not related to you yet you want to have sex with me, why don’t you wear a condom? or take a test with me if am comfortable and if I am not, ask me to wear a condom,” she said.

Jackline says she finally decided to reveal her HIV status to stop men from approaching and asking her for sex.

She added that she developed some vaginal complications due to too much sex as she has been selling her body for 18 years to raise money for upkeep.

Jackline believes her story will make men change their ways and start using protection whenever they have sex with strangers. She was infected with HIV when she was 18 years old as she tried to make money for herself and her nephew’s upkeep.

She indicated that she had no one to take care of her needs after her mother moved abroad for work, leaving her under the care of her aunt, who would bag all the money her mum sent.

Jackline says she contemplated suicide after her mother disowned her upon learning her behaviors.

“It was heartbreaking, I stayed without taking medication but was just pushing on with life. At some point I went upcountry and came back to Nairobi and that was when I attempted suicide,” said Jackline, who is battling depression after her family and friends deserted her.

The Kenyan woman had been rumored to be a lesbian for a long time but no one was quite sure whether that was indeed true.

Not that being gay ia an unusual or a new thing. However, a lot of eyebrows are still being raised when it comes to the issue perhaps because homosexuality is considered an illegal activity in Kenya

Sometime in October 2017 Patricia Kihoro was rumored to have been caught pants down in a lesbian threesome with some other Kenyan women.

But now the Popular Vlogger, actress and singer says her efforts to keep her love life private was the sole reason that led to speculations that she was lesbian.

At the time, it was reported that Kihoro was in a relationship with a well-known female Kenyan rapper and as well as another female media personality.

But the 34-year-old says she has always dated men but kept her relationships low key, which explains why people started speculating she was playing for the other ‘team’.

DATING MEN

“For the longest time, I was dating men. If you go through my Instagram over the years I didn’t even hide. I would post people but it wasn’t like lovey-dovey stuff, if you were keen you would see who I was dating at the time. I would post them in the context that this is somebody in my life but I wouldn’t reveal in what way they are in my life. I think of how private I kept that side of my life, people then speculate, start to make up things,” Kihoro said.

Kihoro shot into the limelight back in 2009 when she took part in the singing competition Tusker Project Fame 3 where she was among the finalists.

She later landed a job as a presenter for Homeboyz Radio and also ventured into acting. Over the years she has also been a very active YouTube vlogger and brand influencer.

“I have been accused of being a lesbian but first of all, it is not an accusation, because calling me a lesbian is not an insult as I have met wonderful human beings who are homosexual and are far better than people who have stood in certain standards of judging others.

So that is why I never speak about it. I am who I am, you know! I know what I stand for and my family knows what I stand for,” said Patricia.

Patricia further revealed that her mother has been very supportive of her work and opinion. She reveals that her first interaction with gay people was courtesy of her mother.

“My mother has supported my work from the start and she always respects my opinion. The first people I ever met who were openly gay were friends of my mum. I was probably 16 years and she didn’t make a big deal about it, and therefore I also did not learn that was a big deal,” revealed Patricia.