Why cyber law is a tool to silence Gen Z's bold online activism

Attorney General Justin Muturi responds to questions when he appeared before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating proliferation of religius organisations in Kenya and the deaths in Shakahola, Kilifi County on May 10th, 2023.[FILE/Standard] The opposition has criticized President William Ruto for what it terms as veiled attempt to silence dissent through the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, a day after the Head of State defended the law. Former Attorney General Justin Muturi on Friday, launched a scathing attack on the Ruto administration, accusing it of hiding behind the law to ensure self-preservation. The Democratic Party leader claimed the amended law was not crafted to protect citizens but to silence them, arguing that it targets not hackers or online fraudsters, but a generation that "dares to speak truth to power without permission, without fear and without a price tag." "Specifically, it was written for the sons and daughters of this country, the Gen Zs who rose from dorm rooms, backstreets and digital spaces to shake the foundations of power. Armed with nothing but X, Tik Tok, courage and conscience, they organized themselves without tribal elders, without party sponsors, without billion-shilling handouts and still sent fear crawling through State House walls," stated Muturi. "Under this new amendment, every tweet becomes a potential crime, every TikTok a possible offence, every post a risk. If you expose the selling of public assets, you can be accused of "incitement." If you criticize corruption, it becomes "cyber harassment". If you film police brutality, it is "publishing false or alarming information". If you tell the truth, it becomes "likely to cause unrest." In short, transparency itself is now treason." He attributed the President's hurried signing of the Cybercrime Bill into law at a time when the nation was mourning former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to fear of a young generation that cannot be bought, threatened, or silenced. Hired goons patrol Nairobi streets in bid to block Gen Z from accessing the CBD during the Anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] Muturi noted that the current regime is afraid of a generation that has stopped asking for justice and started demanding it. "The truth that this regime fears most is simple: you can not jail an entire generation. You can not arrest every tweet, delete every conscience, or suspend every idea. You can unplug the internet, but you can not unplug awareness. You can shut down platforms, but you can not shut down purpose," he reiterated. He was responding to President Ruto's explanation after the Head of State, bowing to public criticism on Thursday, defended his decision to sign into law eight Bills, among them the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, on the same day the former Prime Minister died. The President said the law seeks to protect Kenyans, especially children, teenagers and youth, from the growing dangers of internet-related crimes. Ruto dismissed claims that he hurriedly or secretly assented to the Bill, insisting the process was transparent and constitutionally guided. He added that the amendments were long overdue and intended to modernise Kenya's cyber laws in line with global standards as digital crime grows increasingly sophisticated. "We want to protect Kenyans. As a government, we must hold accountable those involved in cybercrimes. We must stop terrorism, online fraud and the misuse of digital platforms that target innocent people, particularly the youth," he said. Speaking during the funeral service of Weston Kirocho Kanja, father of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, in Thome, Laikipia County, the President said the new law was necessary to safeguard national security and restore order in the digital space. "These laws have always existed; they only went through amendments starting in 2024. They were brought to me for signing, but unfortunately, the Prime Minister had passed on. I did not sign them in private. People should stop misleading Kenyans," he said. The High Court has, however, temporarily suspended the implementation of certain provisions of the Act, citing concerns over potential violations of privacy, freedom of expression and access to information.

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