A fresh political storm has erupted after former Cabinet Secretary and Attorney General Justin Muturi harshly criticized President William Ruto’s decision to sign the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, into law.
In a statement released Friday, Muturi said the new law is not about protecting Kenyans from cyber threats but about curbing their freedom to speak.
“Somebody tell President William Ruto that Kenyans are not fools,” he declared. “This is not a law against crime—it is a law against courage.”
According to Muturi, the law reflects a growing culture of fear within government circles.
He described it as a weapon in a paranoid regime’s arsenal, arguing that it was crafted to muzzle ordinary citizens who express their opinions online.
“It does not target hackers or online fraudsters, but young Kenyans who speak truth to power without fear,” he said.
The Act, which President Ruto signed into law on Wednesday, has sparked widespread public debate. Human rights organizations and media practitioners have warned that it poses a serious threat to digital freedom and could be used to criminalize criticism of the state.
Government officials have defended the move, insisting that the amendments are meant to safeguard national security and curb the growing menace of online misinformation, scams, and cyberbullying.
Muturi, however, dismissed those justifications as mere propaganda.
“You cannot protect democracy by gagging its defenders,” he said. “When leaders begin to fear their citizens more than criminals, it is the country’s freedom that stands trial.”
As the law takes effect, legal experts predict a wave of constitutional challenges and public resistance to what many see as one of Kenya’s most restrictive digital-era legislations yet.