NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Information, Communications, and The Digital Economy (ICT) is set to take decisive action against parents or guardians who facilitate their children’s access to pornographic material online.
ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo made the announcement, emphasizing the critical need to shield children from harmful digital content and underscoring the primary role of parents in ensuring their offspring do not encounter such material when using electronic devices.
While condemning the increasing misuse of the Cybercrimes Act, CS Kabogo indicated that Kenya intends to draw inspiration from countries that have successfully implemented regulations to safeguard their youth online.
“The other day I saw in Geneva that they are introducing SIM cards to be used by underage children. They cannot access some sites …and we will get there,” he stated in an interview on radio.
Kabogo further elaborated on the government’s stance: “If you leave your phone with your child to play games, but your phone has access to all those sites. And children are curious, and they will access those sites, so what are we doing to our children? If a report gets to us that you gave your child an opportunity to watch pornography, we will charge you because you are spoiling your child.”
He added that the Ministry is actively engaged in amending the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act. These amendments will seek to curb the misuse of online platforms and address the spread of misinformation.
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“We are not gagging you but we are saying behave morally. I saw the other day they’re putting people in coffins. Would you want your children to see that? We have embraced a nation of ill content on social media,” he noted, expressing concern over the normalization of inappropriate content online.
CS Kabogo also condemned the abuse of political leaders through AI-generated images, asserting that such actions represent a severe breach of media freedoms.
Under current legislation, Section 37 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act 2018 stipulates that any person who transfers, publishes, or disseminates the intimate or obscene image of another person is liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh 200,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.
The Ministry’s proposed actions indicate a move towards extending accountability to those who facilitate access for minors.
