KISUMU, Kenya – Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has called on Parliament and the Senate to urgently review and strengthen the country’s cyber laws to keep pace with evolving digital threats.
Speaking during the opening of a Coast Parliamentary Group meeting in Kisumu, Omollo said the legal framework governing Kenya’s cyberspace is outdated and ill-equipped to address the sophistication of modern-day cybercrime.
“The Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act was enacted more than six years ago. A lot has changed within the technology space since then,” said Omollo.
His remarks come as the government grapples with a wave of cyber threats targeting both public and private institutions.
Omollo warned that while technology continues to drive innovation and connectivity, it is also increasingly being exploited for malicious purposes.
“There are those who are not using that space positively. We need to relook at the laws to strengthen them,” he said. “We should also study how other jurisdictions are tackling these challenges, especially in controlling hate speech and digital crime.”
The PS emphasized the urgency of reinforcing legal safeguards to ensure digital platforms are used responsibly and to deter those who exploit technology for criminal or harmful activities.
The Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, passed in 2018, was Kenya’s first comprehensive law targeting cyber threats.
But Omollo argued that the pace of technological advancement has rendered parts of the law obsolete.
He urged lawmakers to revisit the Act and expand it to include new forms of cyber offenses, including coordinated disinformation campaigns, online harassment, digital fraud, and data privacy violations.
Omollo also commended Coast region legislators for their oversight role and development-focused agenda, encouraging more active engagement in national policy discussions—including the digital front.
“Technology is a critical enabler of development, but it must be safeguarded from abuse,” he said.
