Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Thursday called on Muslim leaders to support the new cybercrime law, saying it upholds morality among Muslims and the Islamic religion.
Mr Duale said the law protects children from pornographic content and wondered why the courts declared it unconstitutional despite approving it two years ago.
“Section 27 of the Cybercrime Act was passed when I was the Leader of Majority in Parliament, and that is the section which protects our children from accessing pornographic content and others that corrupt their morals. The court said it was constitutional. I was shocked the other day when another judge didn’t know that his counterpart two years ago had declared it was constitutional,” said Mr Duale.
“Let our religious leaders and political leaders come out and support this law to save our children from accessing content that interferes with their morals. As leaders we shouldn’t fear defending what is right,” added the CS.
He was speaking in Jamia Mosque on Thursday during the launch of a book detailing the institution's journey for the last 100 years.
“Don’t shy from speaking on your religion as Muslims. Let us stand for the truth and protect our children from bad content,” added Mr Duale.
On October 23, the High Court in Nairobi halted the provisions of Section 27 (1), (b), (c) and (2), which critics said interfered with online freedom.
This came a week after President William Ruto signed the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2024, into law.
The provisions halted were those which criminalises intentional communication that harms another person’s reputation, privacy, or mental well-being, including actions “likely to cause them to commit suicide.”
They also cover similar electronic transmissions and prescribe penalties of up to Sh20 million or a 10-year prison term.
The CS said a lot of young people are going into depression with others committing suicide as a result of the content they consume on social media.
“A lot of young people are on social media, that is okay, but what do they do? Imams, leadership of various mosques and religious organisations should do more to guide our youth,” said Mr Duale.
The CS said Jamia Mosque, which stands at the heart of the Central Business District, must always show steadfast leadership as it is part of the history of the Islamic religion in the country.
