Wajir East MP Aden Daudi, the sponsor of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, has defended the legislation, saying it is designed to protect Kenyans from criminal and harmful activities in the digital space not to suppress free expression.
Speaking on Wednesday evening during a roundtable discussion in Nairobi attended by bloggers, influencers, and content creators, Daudi said the revised law aims to “shut down channels that promote violent extremism, exploit children online, encourage cultism, or facilitate any unlawful digital activity.”
The Jubilee Party legislator clarified that the amendments empower authorities to block harmful websites and compel the removal of illegal content from digital platforms, computer systems, and mobile devices. He dismissed claims that Parliament rushed the law through without constitutional safeguards.
“I am a lawyer and a lawmaker. I have sworn to protect the Constitution. Neither myself nor my colleagues will pass a law that violates it. And if we do, the Judiciary remains the safeguard,” Daudi said, referencing ongoing court challenges to certain provisions of the new law.
President William Ruto signed the amendments into law on October 15, 2025, though the High Court has since suspended some contested sections pending further review.
The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in Parliament in November 2024 and subjected to public participation in February 2025. Submissions were received from several stakeholders, including the Ministry of Industrialisation, Communication and the Digital Economy, and the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet).
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie backed Daudi, noting that the amendments strengthen gaps left in the 2018 Act, especially on protecting minors. Lang’ata MP Felix Odiwuor (Jalang’o) and Nandi Hills MP Bernard Kitur also attended the forum, where legislators reaffirmed their commitment to keeping Kenya’s cyberspace safe and accountable.
