A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members in Mombasa is calling for the urgent repeal of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, claiming it is being weaponized to suppress freedom of expression and has contributed to the harassment, arrest, and killing of bloggers and youth.
Led by ODM stalwart Betty Sharon, the group linked the controversial law to the recent mysterious death of blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody at a Nairobi police station following his arrest in Homa Bay.
“When Parliamentarians want to pass an act that favours them, they pass it without blinking. Then they come back and shed crocodile tears when it turns on us,” Sharon stated during a press briefing. “We are not going to sit and watch our children die every day.”
She argued that the act has criminalized online expression, making defamation a criminal offense instead of a civil matter, and accused legislators of enabling police brutality through the law’s broad powers.
The group also criticized the allocation of KSh100 million in the 2025/2026 national budget to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for the purchase of spyware, warning it would further infringe on citizens’ privacy and rights.
ODM member Oginga Randiki echoed the call, saying, “The act has given police unchecked power to arrest youths and bloggers. MPs cannot pretend to empathize with victims while they are the architects of this draconian law.”
Youth leader Samson Okute expressed outrage over Ojwang’s death, urging the Deputy Inspector General of Police to step aside. “We are tired of burying our own. Justice must be served,” he said.
Lenny Oguna called on the government to fulfill its promises to end abductions and gender-based violence, while Raphael Wakaya emphasized the need for media independence and transparency in reporting such cases.
The calls come amid mounting pressure on authorities to investigate Ojwang’s death and reassess the impact of the cybercrime law on civil liberties in Kenya.
Written By Rodney Mbua
