Catholic Bishops raise concern on hurriedly enacted cybercrime law

In a statement on Thursday, the bishops urged the government to review the laws and conduct a meaningful public participation to prevent possible abuse of civil liberties.

“We strongly recommend a necessary review lest they be abused to curtail the very freedom they ought to protect. Meaningful public participation would be necessary. The fears Kenyans have expressed regarding these new laws should not be brushed off,” the statement read in part.

The bishops warned that some provisions of the act could be used to silence government critics, infringe citizens’ privacy, or manipulate the electoral process.

“Specifically, it seems that the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act can be used to silence government critics, to abuse the right to privacy, or even to manipulate the electoral process,” the bishops under their chairperson Rev. Maurice Muhatia Makumba remarked. 

While acknowledging the need for responsible online behaviour, the bishops defended citizens’ right to free expression, stating, “We have always called on the public, especially the youth, to use civil language when raising concerns online. Nevertheless, they should not be intimidated from expressing themselves as active citizens interested in their country's affairs.”

The association further cautioned that enacting laws without proper public involvement risks eroding public trust in the government. They called for the review of offending clauses and clarity on who the law targets.

The KCCB also expressed concern over the proposed Religious Organisation Bill, warning that while certain regulations may be necessary, the government must not appear to be attempting to control religion.

On education, the bishops criticised the government’s handling of reforms, saying that the recent decisions have been driven more by political expediency than the welfare of the learners.

“The rationale, choices, and general development of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) that has now taken the Competency-Based Education (CBE) tag have been without clear guidance to the teachers, parents, and students,” the statement read.

They warned that the confusion poses a serious risk to the future of children learning under a system with no clear end goal.

“The schools, through their Heads, are expected to manage the ordinary running of the school, with capitation delays, no extra fees from parents, and threats that no student should be sent away from school for lack of school fees. We should not gamble with our children's lives,” they stated.

On health matters, the bishops criticised delayed payments under the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, saying they are crippling service delivery, particularly in faith-based hospitals and private hospitals across the country.

“We ask that the matter of huge uncleared NHIF dues be fast-tracked and paid by the government. Many Faith-based Hospitals are on the brink of closing due to unpaid claims.”

The bishops also encouraged Kenyans, especially the youth, to take part in the ongoing voter registration exercise ahead of the 2027 general election.

“Registering as a voter secures your voice and contribution, enabling Kenya to continue growing in Justice, Peace, and Unity. This is an important step in the process of setting things right and rectifying the various Institutions and organs of Government,” stated the bishops.