PS Omollo says gov't to regulate Kenyan cyberspace, enhance cyber security act

Dr. Omollo told the media after a meeting in Machakos on Thursday that the regulations are intended to ensure that cyberspace is suitable for conducting business and communication.

He also stated that the regulations will address how critical information and infrastructure will be secured, as well as how to deal with cybercrime and capacity building and development.

Omollo stated that in order to effectively implement the plan, a task force was formed, which has already produced draft regulations aimed at improving the existing Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act 2018.

He further noted that the regulations will be subject to public participation and National Assembly review prior to implementation.

"These regulations are supposed to go through a series of processes. We have two co-chairs and the team members drawn from all government agencies that deal with cyberspace, ICT and digitization issues," he said. 

"We will be making communication with the public so that they can have a very personal relationship with these draft regulations. We'd want to hear what they think is okay and what they would want us to adjust."

The CMCA Act defines computer-related offences to allow for the timely and effective detection, prohibition, prevention, response, investigation, and prosecution of computer and cybercrime.

Among the offences are cyber espionage, unauthorised access to ICT systems, false information publication, child pornography, identity theft, cyber harassment, and cyberterrorism.