MPs have switched off their phones after numbers leaked online – Kimani Ichung’wah
Most of the Members of Parliament (MPs) have switched off their phones after their numbers were leaked online, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has stated.
Speaking on the floor of the house during the Finance Bill 2024 debate, the Kikuyu MP pointed out that the majority of the lawmakers had endured harassment.
MPs harassed
Ichung'wah stated that National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi is one of the victims of the incident that saw their phone contacts leak online.
To protect themselves from being harassed by a section of Kenyans through calls and text messages, Ichung'wah says a section of the MPs have decided to block their phones to remain unreachable.
"I know many of these members including myself have suffered a lot of harassment. I was asking the leader of the minority this morning whether he has suffered the same and he told me his phone is worse. Many of these Members of Parliament, you cannot reach them on their phones, they have blocked their phones including WhatsApp," Ichung'wah said.
ODPC warning
Ichung'wah's remarks come moments after the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) fired a warning at Kenyans over the sharing of people's information online without their consent.
ODPC in a statement on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, said that the recent trend of consolidating and sharing other people’s personal information on social media platforms infringes on individuals’ rights to privacy.
“ODPC has established that there has been a recent trend of consolidating and sharing of personal information (names, telephone numbers, location and details of family members) of a certain category of citizens through social media platforms,” ODPC statement reads.
Data Protection Act
Members of the public were warned to refrain from further sharing personal information contrary to the provisions of Article 31 of the Constitution of Kenya, the Data Protection Act, 2019 and its attendant regulations.
On June 13, 2024, ODPC announced that more than 5,000 people had filed complaints since the enactment of the Data Protection Act, of 2019. Of all the complaints received, ODPC has resolved 90% of them.
ODPC says more Kenyans are becoming aware of their privacy rights and what to do when their personal data is used improperly.
The ODPC warning came after netizens took to social media to share contacts of the MPs and top government officials including the President.
After their contacts leaked, the affected MPs started receiving text messages on their phone from Kenyans who advised them to reject the Finance Bill 2024.
However, a section of Kenyans used the opportunity to send vulgar messages to the lawmakers, with National Assembly Majority whip Sylvanus Osoro saying that he was a victim.
Molo MP Kimani Kuria on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, said that he had received a total of Ksh168,000 on MPESA from Kenyans who sought to confirm his identity.
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