NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 21 – The Government will have powers to shut down social media platforms and websites that promote illegal activities after President William Ruto recently signed the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Bill, 2024, into law.
The new law empowers the state to restrict access to websites or applications found to be facilitating terrorism, child pornography, extreme religious indoctrination, or cultic practices.
Sponsored by Wajir East MP Aden Daudi, the amendment strengthens the existing Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, Cap 79C, which previously offered limited oversight over such online platforms.
“The principal object of the Bill is to amend the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act to prohibit the use of electronic media to promote terrorism and extreme religious and cultic practices,” the law states.
The amendment also expands the definition of “cyber harassment” to include communication likely to cause a person to commit suicide, in response to growing concerns about online bullying.
Additionally, individuals found guilty of unauthorized SIM-card swaps to commit crimes face fines of up to Sh200,000, a two-year prison term, or both.
Daudi said the legislation is a critical step toward countering the rising wave of cyber threats and ensuring safer digital spaces for Kenyans.
