President William Ruto is reported to have taken advantage of the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to quietly sign eight controversial bills into law—among them, one that grants him powers to shut down social media platforms and pages without obtaining court orders.
On the very day Raila Odinga passed away in India, President Ruto hurriedly assented to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024, alongside seven other pieces of legislation.
The new cybercrime law introduces stiff penalties, including fines of up to KSh 20 million or 10 years in prison for what it terms as “offensive online content”. It also criminalises unauthorised SIM card swaps and allows authorities to block websites without court approval under certain circumstances.
Human rights activists and legal experts have condemned the law as unconstitutional, arguing that it undermines the freedoms of speech and expression, which are among the fundamental pillars of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
Many Kenyans have taken to social media under the hashtag #RejectCyberCrimeLaw, criticising the government for prioritising oppressive legislation over addressing pressing economic challenges. They argue that with high unemployment and growing despair, President Ruto should be focusing on fixing the economy rather than silencing dissent.
“Ruto will never change. He is a disease to democracy,” blogger Cyprian Nyakundi posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
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