Inside new computer and land use laws

President William Ruto during the proclamation of the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at State House, Nairobi, on October 15, 2025. [PCS]

Early on Wednesday morning before the country received the news of demise of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, President William Ruto assented into law,eight Bills passed by the National Assembly.

The Bills are National Land Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Land (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Others are National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025; and the Privatisation Bill, 2025.

“With my assent, these laws now become part of the Statutes of the Republic of Kenya, reinforcing our collective commitment to address historical injustices, entrench equity and transparency, and accelerate our national development and transformation agenda,” Ruto said.

One of the Bills that raised controversy was the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Bill, which sought to tighten Kenya’s digital space through a far-reaching law that targets cybercrime, online child exploitation, extremist content, fake news, identity theft and misuse of SIM cards.

“The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Amendment Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 41 of 2024...seeks to provide a regulatory framework combating unlawful activities, inappropriate sexual content of minors, terrorism or religious extremism, and cultism, among other forms of cybercrimes, thereby advancing the gains made by the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Amendment Act,” read a citation by Deputy State House Comptroller Josphat Nanok.

The Bill was proposed and sponsored by an individual member, Wajir East MP Aden Mohammed, who proposed to amend the Act to prohibit the use of electronic mediums to promote unlawful activities including terrorism, religious extremism. 

“While moving the Bill, the member proposed that the Bill indicate that any persons who use computers or modern technology to exploit our children, including matters of child pornography, will be brought before the law.” said Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge. “The Bill also provides that the court may additionally order the removal of such unlawful content, closure of or deactivation of the computer system, website or digital device upon conviction of the offender.”

The National Land Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was resubmitted following Parliament’s consideration and assimilation of the President’s recommendation on the bill earlier submitted pursuant to Article 115(1b) of the Constitution. 

The Bill sought to amend the National Land Commission Act by repealing Section 15 pursuant to Article 67(2e) of the Constitution, which mandates the Commission to initiate, receive, admit, and investigate any historical land injustices, complaints, and recommend appropriate redress.  The Bill was sponsored by the Member for Kilifi North, Owen Baya, which was before the President for a second time. 

“The first time, it came, you (President) required that the National Assembly does amend the Bill further to accord properly with Article 67 of the Constitution,” Njoroge indicated.

The Bill proposed that the National Land Commission looks further and investigates on its own motion or after being moved by any person on complaints relating to historical land injustices. 

“The National Assembly has given the Commission a window of five years within which to conclude those investigations.