Kenya, 24 October 2025 - President William Ruto has defended the controversial Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024, saying it is meant to protect Kenyans, particularly young people, from the growing dangers of online exploitation, harassment, and misinformation. Speaking in Laikipia County on October 23, 2025, the President dismissed claims that the law was intended to silence dissent or stifle digital expression.
“Our young people are being harassed; they are being terrorised on social media. We must stop that,” he said, insisting the law’s intent is to “safeguard citizens, not silence them.”
The new law, which he assented to on October 15, 2024, expands the powers of the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee, allowing it to block websites or online applications that violate national security or data protection regulations.
It also introduces stiffer penalties for cyber-harassment, identity theft, and digital impersonation. However, critics argue that the legislation gives government agencies sweeping powers to access private accounts and shut down online platforms without judicial oversight, posing a threat to freedom of expression. Digital-rights activists, bloggers, and journalists have already filed petitions at the High Court challenging sections of the Act.
Among those leading the legal challenge are lawyer Levi Munyeri and blogger Cyprian Nyakundi, who describe the law as a “digital gag” that risks reversing Kenya’s decade-long progress in online civic engagement. Interior Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo has defended the Act, saying much of the public debate is based on “misinformation.” “Much of what is currently circulating online about the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 is misleading or entirely inaccurate,” Dr Omollo noted that the amendments are aligned with global cyber-security frameworks and are designed to combat online financial fraud, phishing, and the spread of extremist content, all of which have spiked in recent years.
Meanwhile, the High Court has issued temporary orders suspending parts of the law pending a constitutional hearing, particularly the provisions allowing state agencies to intercept data and block websites without prior judicial approval. Digital-rights organisations, including Article 19 Eastern Africa and KICTANet, have urged Parliament to reopen public consultations on the legislation, calling for greater transparency and accountability in its implementation.
Analysts say the controversy underscores Kenya’s delicate balance between security and freedom in the digital age. As the country’s online population approaches 35 million users, concerns about misinformation, cyber-fraud, and data breaches have grown, but so too have fears of state overreach. For now, the law remains in limbo: symbolising both the urgency to protect citizens in an increasingly digital world, and the need to preserve the constitutional freedoms that define Kenya’s democracy.