The Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was signed into law by President William Ruto on October 15, 2025.
The Act amends the existing Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, to broaden definitions, increase penalties and introduce new cyber-offences.
Civil society groups, media organisations and digital-rights advocates argue that key provisions are vague, overly broad and susceptible to abuse — for example, what counts as “harm to reputation/mental‐well-being” can be ambiguous.
Ruto has however defended the Act saying it is designed to protect Kenyans from online harm, including terrorism recruitment, religious extremism, pornography and cyberbullying, and not to curtail freedom of expression as claimed by critics.
A High Court has already temporarily suspended enforcement of certain sections (notably Section 27(1)(b),(c) and (2)) while constitutional challenges proceed.
The petition was filed by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and activist Reuben Kigame.
