The Kenya Information & Communications (Amendment) Bill 2025.

Best Wishes
Beatrice WW M

On Mon, 26 May 2025, 18:26 Anthony Kiarie via KICTANet, <
[email protected]> wrote:

> Good evening
> In a previous thread I have mentioned how CSP’s intercept communication
> viz voice, sms, data, etc.
> Seeing as we do seem to draw a lot from Europe in way of policy and
> regulation case in point the GDPR one and I think we may borrow from the
> MICA regulation on Digital and crypto assets…
> I thought I would share one of the discussion items at WEF 2025 in Jan 2025
>
> A excerpt from one of Europran leaders:
> “.. That’s why I believe we must push forward the principle of
> ‘pseudonymity’ as the functioning element of social media, and force all
> these platforms to link every user account to an European Digital Identity
> Wallet…
> ..
> My second proposal is to force open the black box of social media
> algorithms, once and for all. The values of the European Union are not for
> sale. Safeguards like content moderation and fact-checking are both legal
> and moral requirements that must be followed by all.”
>
> This is a topical discussion not only in Kenya…
>
>
> www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/davos-2025-special-address-pedro-sanchez-prime-minister-spain/
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, 26 May 2025, 16:22 Jacinta Wothaya via KICTANet, <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Lawrence,
>>
>> Thanks for opening the discussion on The Kenya Information &
>> Communications (Amendment) Bill 2025
>> <www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2025-05/The%20Kenya%20Information%20and%20Communications%20%28amendment%29%20Bill%2C%202025.pdf> and
>> for the contributions by Kinyanjui and Steve.
>>
>> I encourage everyone to review the bill and contribute to this
>> much-needed discussion. Let’s amplify our voices and ensure the final
>> legislation reflects the needs of the vibrant digital community that we’ve
>> worked hard to grow as Kenyans.
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> *Jacinta Wothaya*
>>
>> On Mon, May 26, 2025 at 10:16 AM Wasilwa Steve via KICTANet <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> *Subject:* Implications of the Kenya Information and Communications
>>> (Amendment) Bill, 2025 on the Common Citizen
>>>
>>> Dear KICTAnet Members,
>>>
>>> I hope this message finds you well.
>>>
>>> I am writing to contribute to the ongoing conversation surrounding the *Kenya
>>> Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025*, which is
>>> currently under consideration. While the bill appears to address regulatory
>>> gaps in the information and communications sector, several provisions—if
>>> passed and enacted—may have *far-reaching consequences for the common
>>> citizen*, particularly in relation to constitutional freedoms, media
>>> independence, and access to secure communication channels.
>>> Key Implications for the Common Mwananchi:
>>>
>>> 1.
>>>
>>> *Chilling Effect on Press Freedom and Public Accountability*
>>> The bill proposes punitive fines of up to *KSh 20 million for media
>>> houses* and *KSh 1 million for individual journalists*, alongside
>>> the risk of suspension or deregistration. These sanctions are likely to
>>> promote *self-censorship* in the media, diminishing the public’s
>>> access to critical reporting, especially on governance, corruption, and
>>> service delivery issues that directly affect everyday life.
>>> 2.
>>>
>>> *Suppression of Civic Voices and Whistleblowers*
>>> In an environment where journalists and media outlets are under
>>> threat, *civil society actors, community voices, and whistleblowers*
>>> may hesitate to speak out or share information publicly, reducing the
>>> avenues through which citizens hold leaders accountable.
>>> 3.
>>>
>>> *Erosion of Constitutional Rights*
>>> The bill raises serious questions about *compliance with Article 34
>>> of the Constitution*, which guarantees freedom of the press. If
>>> these rights are weakened through legislation, ordinary citizens lose one
>>> of their most powerful tools for civic engagement and democratic
>>> participation.
>>> 4.
>>>
>>> *Loosening SIM Card Registration Rules – A Double-Edged Sword*
>>> While the removal of restrictions on SIM card hawking may support
>>> informal economy players, it also *opens the door to misuse of
>>> unregistered lines*, potentially increasing cybercrime, identity
>>> theft, and fraudulent mobile money transactions that disproportionately
>>> affect low-income earners and vulnerable users.
>>> 5.
>>>
>>> *Decline in Trust in Public Institutions*
>>> A heavily regulated media landscape controlled by state mechanisms
>>> may lead to *reduced public trust in the credibility of information*,
>>> limiting informed decision-making and widening the digital divide.
>>>
>>> A Call for a Citizen-Centric Approach
>>>
>>> As members of Kenya’s vibrant ICT policy community, I believe we have a
>>> shared responsibility to *defend digital rights, promote inclusive
>>> regulation*, and advocate for legislative frameworks that *strengthen—not
>>> suppress—citizen empowerment*.
>>>
>>> I urge this forum to continue amplifying civic voices, interrogating the
>>> constitutionality of the bill’s provisions, and engaging policy makers with
>>> reasoned, evidence-based recommendations. Let us work toward legislation
>>> that protects citizens, upholds press freedom, and secures the digital
>>> public square.
>>>
>>> Warm regards,
>>> Steve Wasilwa- MSc. MBA
>>> Board Member -REDO Kenya
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sun, May 25, 2025 at 9:45 PM Lawrence Muchilwa via KICTANet <
>>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hey Listers…
>>>>
>>>> The proposed changes regarding usage of meters are misinformed, counter
>>>> productive.
>>>>
>>>> ISP already keep track of connections to an extent. The system isn’t
>>>> without gaps but existing gaps can better be address by eg more adoption of
>>>> IPv6,instead of this retrogressive approach that will increase connectivity
>>>> overhead,making Internet access more expensive,reduce number of users on
>>>> the net, effectively undermining any digital transformation, adoption and
>>>> progress.
>>>>
>>>> Link to bill:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> www.parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2025-05/The%20Kenya%20Information%20and%20Communications%20%28amendment%29%20Bill%2C%202025.pdf
>>>>
>>>> with kind regards
>>>> Muchilwa Lawrence
>>>> overwatch.or.ke www.testmyids.ke
>>>>