Kabogo Addresses 2025 Cybercrime Law Changes as Government Moves to Counter Rising Digital Threats
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Hon. William Kabogo, has issued a firm clarification on the government’s proposed amendments to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2025, insisting the reforms are aimed at addressing fast-evolving online threats rather than curbing civil liberties.
Speaking in a televised interview, Mr Kabogo said the review of the law had become “an unavoidable necessity” as criminals increasingly exploit gaps in Kenya’s digital legislation. He warned that cybercrime has grown more sophisticated, endangering ordinary citizens and businesses.
“The digital landscape has changed dramatically. These amendments are meant to protect Kenyans from modern cyber threats that simply did not exist a few years ago,” he said.
According to the CS, the updated law targets a growing list of high-tech offences, including identity theft, SIM-swap fraud, cyberbullying, deepfake manipulation, online exploitation, and other forms of digital abuse that have surged with technological advancement.
Kabogo stressed that the government’s intention is to strengthen protections, not impose restrictions on legitimate online activity.
“This is not about limiting freedom of expression or expanding state surveillance,” he explained. “The amendments introduce clear definitions of cyber offences and ensure that any request for access to personal data is subjected to strict legal safeguards, including mandatory court oversight.”
His remarks come amid public debate over whether the changes could give government agencies excessive control over digital communications. Kabogo dismissed those fears as unfounded, insisting the Act places tight boundaries on what state bodies can do.
“The revised Act enhances transparency. It prevents misuse by clearly outlining what government agencies can and cannot do,” he said, adding that the reforms were developed with constitutional rights in mind.
The CS also offered a broader outline of Kenya’s national cybersecurity strategy, noting that the amendments sit within a larger policy framework intended to strengthen the country’s resilience to cyberattacks.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to scale up the operations of CERT-Kenya, the national Computer Emergency Response Team, which handles incident monitoring and rapid response. Additionally, the government is establishing a National Cyber Security Agency, a central institution that will coordinate cybersecurity initiatives across both public and private sectors.
Kabogo maintained that safeguarding Kenya’s digital space will require collective effort.
“Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility,” he noted. “We must combine awareness, collaboration, and updated legal frameworks if we are to stay ahead of global technological changes.”
The government is expected to table the final version of the proposed amendments in Parliament in the coming months, where further public input will be invited before the bill proceeds to debate.
Kabogo Addresses 2025 Cybercrime Law Changes as Government Moves to Counter Rising Digital Threats