Ruto Silently Signs Computer Misuse Bill into Law; Govt Can New Delete Your Online Content and Jail Offenders

NAIROBI, Kenya — In a move that has ignited fresh debate over digital rights and freedom of expression, President William Ruto on Wednesday signed the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Bill, 2024 into law, granting the government sweeping powers to delete online content and shut down digital platforms.

The assent came on October 15, 2025, the same day the nation mourned the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, with the timing raising eyebrows among civil society groups and digital rights activists who claim the government deliberately chose a moment of national grief to push through controversial legislation.

The new law fundamentally alters the digital landscape for Kenya’s 50 million internet users, allowing authorities to seek court orders for pre-emptive shutdowns of online platforms believed to be facilitating criminal activity, even before any actual harm occurs.

At the heart of the legislation lies Section 46A, a provision that grants courts unprecedented authority to order the deletion of content from digital devices, websites, and computer systems.

The law empowers investigators to move swiftly against platforms hosting what they deem illegal content, including material related to child pornography, terrorism, and what the bill describes as “extreme religious or cultic practices.”

“Where an authorised person believes that a computer system, website, or digital device is being used to promote illegal activities, child pornography, terrorism, or extreme religious and cultic practices, the authorised person may apply to court for an order for the removal of the content,” the law states.

This represents a significant departure from previous legislation, as investigators no longer need to wait for harm to materialize before taking action.

They can now approach the courts to block content before it spreads or goes viral, a power that critics warn could be weaponized against legitimate political dissent and journalism.

During parliamentary debate on the bill, Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, who chairs the Departmental Committee on Information, Communication and Innovation, defended the amendments as necessary to combat rising cybercrime.

He pointed to alarming statistics showing that Kenyans spend an average of four hours and twelve minutes online daily, making the country vulnerable to phishing attacks, fake news, cyberbullying, and AI-generated disinformation.

“What we are observing is that phishing is becoming the order of the day. We seek to avert these increasing incidences of phishing, which can be executed by use of hyperlinks, stealing identities, money, and private information,” Kiarie told the House.

He added that with more than eight out of every ten posts likely to be fake or toxic, the country needed to fortify its digital laws.

His colleague from Dagoretti North, Beatrice Elachi, argued that the changes would help Kenya respond to mounting international pressure, particularly from the European Union, which has criticized the country for failing to adequately police digital child abuse.

Elachi warned that young Kenyans seeking educational opportunities abroad could find their prospects damaged by harmful digital footprints, making the legislation a matter of protecting the country’s youth.

The law also expands Kenya’s legal framework on identity theft, now explicitly including passwords and criminalizing digital impersonation, data harvesting, and phishing.

Anyone who willfully causes unauthorized alteration and unlawfully takes ownership of another person’s SIM card with intent to commit an offense will face imprisonment for up to two years, a fine not exceeding Sh200,000, or both.

However, not all lawmakers celebrated the passage of the bill. Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo issued a stark warning during debate, cautioning that the inclusion of terrorism as grounds for content removal could be abused by authorities to target legitimate political activity.

“We already have an Anti-Terrorism Act. Introducing terrorism here is making a rope, and it will hang us very soon,” Oundo said, adding that even citizens sharing photos of protests could be unfairly targeted under the broad provisions.

“It might look harmless, but to be honest, it has far-reaching repercussions, and we will regret it as a country not long from now,” he cautioned.

The warning appears prescient given Kenya’s recent history of government crackdowns on protest movements and critical online voices.

Digital rights groups have consistently raised concerns about the use of cybercrime legislation to silence dissent, with several activists and bloggers facing charges under existing laws for content critical of the government.

On the other side of the debate, Tigania West MP John Mutunga argued that the law would protect the dignity of Members of Parliament, executives, and ordinary citizens who face routine attacks on social media.

He described the amendment as providing a necessary cushion against the toxicity of online discourse.

Eldas MP Adan Keynan went further, characterizing the law as a safeguard rather than censorship, designed to protect Kenya’s sovereignty, security, and social fabric.

He urged young people to view the legislation as protection rather than restriction.

“This is not punitive. It is guidance. Follow procedure, respect due process, and do not be abusive,” Keynan said.

The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was one of several pieces of legislation signed by President Ruto on Wednesday. Others included the Privatisation Bill, 2025, the Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025, the National Land Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Land (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

As Kenya grapples with the implications of this new legal regime, questions remain about how authorities will balance legitimate law enforcement concerns with constitutional protections for freedom of expression and media freedom.

Civil society organizations have already indicated they are studying the law for potential constitutional challenges, setting the stage for what could be a protracted legal battle over the future of Kenya’s digital space.

For now, Kenyans will need to navigate a new reality where the content they create, share, and consume online exists under the shadow of government scrutiny and potential deletion, marking a significant shift in the country’s digital rights landscape.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​