Interior Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo Wednesday defended the signing of the Cybercrime (Amendment) Bill into law by President William Ruto.
He said much of the criticism circulating in the public domain is based on misinformation.
This came amid protests from a section of Kenyans the law is against the Constitution.
A group activists and lawyers have filed a case in courts to challenge the law.
Dr. Omollo said the public has been misled about the contents and intent of the new law by both mainstream and social media, which have distorted its provisions.
“Much of what is currently circulating online about the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024 is misleading or entirely inaccurate,” the PS said in a statement.
He asked Kenyans to read the law.
“Rather than relying on media summaries or social media commentaries, citizens are encouraged to read the adopted Bill themselves to understand what has actually changed.”
Dr. Omollo maintained that the amendments are progressive, noting that they expand the mandate of the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4) by empowering it to issue lawful directives against websites involved in child pornography, human trafficking, or terrorism.
Omollo noted that the new law also seeks to protect the public from cyber-related harms, including suicide cases linked to online harassment and digital manipulation.
“Additionally, it introduces new provisions criminalizing deliberate cyberspace actions that drive victims to suicide, underscoring the government’s commitment to protecting citizens from emerging digital harms,” he said.
According to Dr. Omollo, the legislation comes at a crucial moment as Kenya accelerates the growth of its Digital Economy under the Digital Superhighway—one of the key pillars of the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
“A secure and trustworthy cyberspace is indispensable to digital innovation, e-commerce, online service delivery, and the protection of citizens’ data and livelihoods,” he noted in a social media post on Wednesday morning.
On October 15, 2025, President Ruto assented to nine key bills, marking major reforms across the governance, economic, and digital sectors.
Among them were the National Land Commission (Amendment) Bill, Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, Land (Amendment) Bill, Privatization Bill, Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Bill, Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Bill, and National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga and a group of activists criticised the Cybercrimes amendments, terming them retrogressive and a violation of constitutional freedoms, including freedom of speech, fair administrative action, and fair trial.
Maraga argued that the law contradicts Article 33 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, warning that it could be used to intimidate journalists, bloggers, and online publishers critical of government policies.
“The Cybercrimes Act, as signed, betrays the spirit of the Constitution and the values of democracy. Granting the Executive unchecked power to close websites is not about protecting Kenyans; it’s about silencing dissent and controlling information,” Maraga said.
He added: “This is a dangerous precedent. Today it’s about websites; tomorrow it will be social media accounts and digital newsrooms. We cannot build a transparent nation by criminalising opinion.”
Under the amended law, the NC4 can now issue directives to block websites or applications promoting illegal activities, terrorism, child pornography, or extremist practices.
Section 27 (2) also introduces stiff penalties, including a fine of up to Sh20 million or 10 years’ imprisonment, or both, for anyone whose online communication incites violence, causes property damage, or leads to harm.
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