Wajir East MP Aden Daud has defended the signing of the controversial Computer Misuse and Cybercrime law, stressing that amendments were necessary to address the loopholes arising from the Cybercrime laws of 2018.

Speaking on Saturday, October 25, 2025, the MP stated that parts of his new amendments were necessary to encompass new developments in the digital space.

He backed the new laws to prove critical in curbing issues of identity theft and online fraud associated with cases of SIM swap for individuals and corporations.

Also watch: Justin Muturi accuses Ruto of using cybercrime law to silence dissent

Barring porn and ID theft

“What necessitated the amendments is that we didn’t have any law barring child pornography in Kenya or barring people from accessing cultic behaviours like Shakahola. We have also ensured that SIM swap is an illegal activity. We have been silent on these issues as banks and corporations have people hacking into their systems and stealing,” he added.

He further refuted assertions that the law empowers state agencies to shut down applications such as Facebook and X pages, arguing that the body will only block the content for the good of the general public.

Public good

“It was important we update the cybercrime laws of 2018 so that we could amend some sections and incorporate the new developments in cyberspace. Our laws have to catch up with new developments and the changing scene of cyberspace, such as AI and other emerging issues,” he stated.

Also watch: Embu Catholic Church backs Cybercrime Act, citing moral responsibility

“I am a lawyer who swore to uphold the Constitution. The uproar against the law is misplaced. The law says the National CyberCrimes Committee will only come to rein in and block those websites if they engage in child pornography or fishy and cultic activities like terrorism,” he added.

His remarks come after Philip Etale, the Orange Democratic Movement’s (ODM) Director of Communications, similarly backed the newly signed Computer Misuse and Cybercrime law despite the huge backlash on the content of the bill.

In a statement on Saturday, October 25, 2025, Etale castigated the people resisting the bill for being strangers to its content. He claimed that the majority of them only jumped onto a bandwagon to reject the law recently assented to by President William Ruto.

 “Those opposed to the Law on Computer Misuse and Cybercrime are being insincere or they are just mimicking a chorus that they don’t understand the lyrics,” he said.

He cited the case of online bullying directed at the late Raila Odinga’s son, Junior, as a wrong that the law would redress.

Cyberbullying

“Kenyans have this peculiar habit of opposing anything and everything without a cause. So when some charlatan starts bullying and making fun of

@Railajunior’s condition, you expect the law not to punish them? When some fool opens a Facebook account in your name and begins extorting money from people, you should just keep quiet, yet it is your reputation that is at risk!

Etale has further warned Kenyans to desist from the blanket condemnation of well-meaning laws and ventures, urging them to take time to read and understand for better judgment.

As a people, we must stop this utilitarian mindset that helps not anyone, nay, not even ourselves. It is perilous to oppose something that you have not read. We must be progressive, bwana,” he added.