Kenya’s High Court has temporarily suspended key sections of the country’s newly amended cybercrime law, delivering a win for free speech advocates. The controversial provisions would have criminalized online communication deemed harmful to another’s reputation or mental state, carrying severe penalties including massive fines and a decade in prison. Critics argued the law’s vague language posed a grave threat to journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens expressing dissent. This ruling halts their enforcement until a constitutional petition challenging the amendments is fully heard. The broader law, which also tackles SIM-swap fraud, cybersecurity reporting, and content removal, remains in effect. The judicial intervention reopens a familiar debate in Kenya, balancing the government’s stated goal of combating cybercrime against the fundamental right to freedom of expression in the digital age.
techcabal
