Computer Cybercrimes committee to conduct public participation for 10 days

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo. [John Muia, Standard]

The National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee will conduct a public participation exercise on the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act from Tuesday, September 12 to September 22, 2023.

The exercise, according to Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo will be held in eight regions across the country including Nairobi, Coast, Nyanza, Central, and Western.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 12, Omollo stated that they have already concluded the development of the draft Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes 2023, which intends to provide a framework to monitor, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats within Kenya's cyberspace.

"Key aspects the regulations address include; the protection measures for critical information infrastructure supporting critical economic sectors including telecoms, banking, transport, and energy sectors and the cybersecurity operations management using cybersecurity operations centers," the PS said.

The proposed Act also recommends management and how to deal with scams, identity theft, hacking, and internet fraud.

The Ministry says it has published public participation and, consultations notice inviting institutions, organisations, and individuals to review and submit their comments on the draft regulations as well.

The public participation engagements will run until September 22 and are being conducted through physical and virtual meetings which will be held in Nyanza, Central, Western, Rift Valley, Eastern, North Eastern, and Nairobi counties.

"We will also hold sectoral meetings with industry stakeholders of various sectors likely to be impacted by the Regulations including ICT and Telecommunications, Energy, Transport, Manufacturing, Industry, Banking, Insurance, Finance, Electoral, Judicial, Health, Education, Food, Water, Land, Defence, Security and Public Safety," Omollo added.

Members of the public have been encouraged to attend the public meetings that will be conducted across the country to give their views.