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.