Wetang’ula urges MPs to curb cybercrime during Commonwealth conference in New Delhi
By Kiprono Keileb, January 15, 2026National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has called on parliamentarians to exercise caution and responsibility online, warning against the misuse of digital platforms.
In a statement shared on X on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Wetang’ula said he made the remarks while attending the official opening of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi, India.
“I attended the official opening of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC), currently underway in New Delhi, India,” he wrote.
He highlighted that the conference, which was officially opened by India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, focused on reviewing strategies to strengthen cooperation among Commonwealth parliaments.
“The conference, which is focused on reviewing strategies for deepening cooperation among Commonwealth Parliaments, was officially opened by India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi,” Wetang’ula stated.
Wetang’ula used his address to stress the growing impact of cybercrime on parliamentarians, pointing out that the scrutiny of parliamentary proceedings has become constant and often unfiltered.
“In my address, which centred on the impact of social media on parliamentarians, I reminded Speakers that, unlike in the past, scrutiny of parliamentary proceedings is now immediate, continuous, and often unfiltered,” he wrote.
He urged MPs to uphold the dignity of their offices and ensure that debates and interactions reflect discipline and purpose.
“I urged Members of Parliament to ensure that their conduct during debate reflects the seriousness, discipline, and purpose of the institutions the people have entrusted them to represent,” Wetangula noted.
While recognising the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech, Wetang’ula warned that cybercrime, including online harassment and intimidation, threatens the effectiveness of parliamentarians in serving the public.
“While acknowledging that the Kenyan Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression, I cautioned that social media should not be abused to intimidate or harass Members of Parliament, as such actions undermine their effectiveness in delivering their constitutional mandate,” he said.