Kenyan MPs have called on citizens to actively participate in reviewing bills before they become law, amid controversy over the new Cybercrime Act. The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning emphasized the importance of involvement during discussions on two 2025 bills. This comes as a court has suspended parts of the cybercrimes amendment following public outcry.
Members of Parliament urged Kenyans to engage in public participation on bills ahead of their assent into law, speaking amid heated debates on the recently enacted Cybercrime Act. On Thursday, October 23, 2025, members of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning addressed stakeholders during an engagement on the Capital Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Government Owned Enterprises Bill, 2025. They expressed concern that the public often gets misled by falsehoods about enacted bills and fails to participate when opportunities arise.
Committee member and Kesses MP Julius Rutto commended attendees, stating, "We want to congratulate you for honouring our invitation to share your perspectives on these two Bills." He added, "We want to encourage, especially young people, to participate in law-making rather than be reactive when laws have been enacted, yet they had a chance to state their standpoints."
The call follows uproar over the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Bill, 2024, assented into law despite criticisms that it prioritizes political control over regulating cybercrime. Provisions allow the government to block websites or apps, remove content, or shut down platforms, raising fears of stifling dissent, investigative journalism, and online expression. The law expands computer misuse to include unauthorized access or modification and covers ICT-enabled offenses against networks or data. Penalties are steep, such as up to Ksh20 million fine or 10 years imprisonment for cyber harassment, defined as communications likely to cause emotional, reputational, safety, or property harm.
Public backlash prompted a petition, leading to conservatory orders from Justice Lawrence Mugambi on October 22, 2025, suspending enforcement of Section 27(1)(b), (c), and (2)—amendments introduced in August 2024. President William Ruto, speaking on October 23 during the burial of Inspector General Douglas Kanja's father, defended the law as beneficial for all Kenyans and accused some leaders of spreading false information to fuel tensions.