NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government is advancing plans to establish a dedicated digital intelligence unit as part of a broader strategy to police the country’s online space, according to a presidential report tabled in Parliament.
While officials say the move aims to combat online abuse, misinformation, and cybercrime, civil liberties advocates and privacy experts warn the proposal could enable intrusive state surveillance and undermine constitutional rights.
In the Annual Report on the State of National Security, covering the period from September 1, 2024 to August 2025, President William Ruto outlined government concerns about growing misuse of social media and digital platforms.
The report notes that social media and mainstream media were used to mobilise protests, coordinate demonstrations, and spread propaganda, disinformation and hate speech.
To counter these perceived threats, the government says it intends to enhance law enforcement capabilities by:
- Establishing a specialised digital intelligence unit
- Introducing rapid response protocols
- Developing a legal framework for digital policing
These measures were highlighted as necessary to monitor online activity and contain digital threats to national security.
Broader legal and policy context
The proposal comes on the heels of significant amendments to Kenya’s cybercrime legislation. In October 2025, President Ruto signed the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Amendment) Act, 2024, which grants authorities broader powers to block access to websites and applications deemed threats to national security.
Under the new legal framework, the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee — largely comprised of security officials, can instruct internet service providers to block content associated with terrorism, pornography, or “extreme religious and cultic practices.”
Earlier in 2025, Parliament also considered amendments to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Bill that empower authorities to compel the removal or blocking of online content that allegedly promotes unlawful activities or exploits minors.
Government supporters argue that enhanced digital policing is essential in the modern age. The Kenyan state points to the increasing integration of digital platforms into everyday life and national security considerations. Cyber threats; including hate speech, misinformation, and online mobilisation — have been cited as drivers for tighter monitoring.
However, human rights and digital freedom advocates caution that the proposed digital intelligence unit could significantly expand state surveillance powers with minimal safeguards.
Although Kenyan law includes a constitutional guarantee of privacy under Article 31, research shows that legal frameworks have not kept pace with emerging technologies and surveillance capabilities.
The Kenya Information and Communications Act and other statutes have gaps that critics say could be exploited to justify intrusive monitoring without adequate oversight or transparency.
A joint civil society report has described similar legislative proposals, such as the Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill 2025, as a “Trojan horse for state surveillance.”
Advocates argue that such laws risk criminalising legitimate free expression and civil liberties under the guise of digital security, fostering censorship and self-censorship among citizens, journalists, and activists.
Historical and regional concerns
The debate over digital surveillance in Kenya is not isolated. International analyses have documented a global increase in digital authoritarian tendencies, where governments embrace expanded surveillance and content controls in response to security and public order challenges.
Critics point to examples where such powers have been misused to stifle dissent or influence public discourse.
In Kenya, concerns about state intrusion into digital communication are compounded by past reports of technology-facilitated suppression of protests.
An Amnesty International report on activism in Kenya found coordinated use of digital platforms and state-linked groups to undermine activist movements and amplify disinformation, raising concerns about privacy and human rights online.
A tension between security and rights
Experts on digital policing note that while technological tools can enhance law enforcement efficiency and help counter criminal activity online, their deployment must be paired with strong legal safeguards, independent oversight, and protections for privacy and freedom of expression.
Without well-defined checks and balances, digital intelligence operations risk crossing from legitimate cybersecurity into unjustified invasions of privacy.
Digital policing tools; including surveillance, data collection, AI-driven monitoring, or content modification, have significant potential to impact fundamental freedoms.
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Scholars emphasize that careful regulation and transparent accountability mechanisms are necessary to prevent abuses and ensure that enforcement actions do not violate constitutional rights.
Next steps and public debate
The presidential report’s tabling in Parliament signals that lawmakers will now engage in debate over the digital intelligence unit and associated legal frameworks. It remains unclear how the proposals will be shaped as they move through the legislative process.
Meanwhile, human rights organisations, digital rights activists, and media houses are expected to intensify calls for explicit protections for privacy, freedom of expression, and public oversight if the initiative advances.
Kenya’s evolving digital policy landscape continues to raise critical questions about how to balance national security interests with the protection of individual rights in an increasingly interconnected digital world.
