Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has said the days for digital terrorism and cyber bullying are numbered with the operationalisation of the National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee (NC4).
While unveiling the NC4 steering committee, the CS noted that this will oversee detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes.
“The National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee (NC4) will be tasked with consolidating action on the detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes,” read part of the statement.
According to Matiang’i, the Secretariat will prioritise the misuse of social media which he described as a major threat to national security and integration.
He has said the government won’t shut the Internet, but will act decisively against any culprit regardless of status or political affiliation.
The CS said digital-based crimes are a major challenge in the lead-up to 2022 elections.
“As we approach the general elections, our challenge number one is the
misuse and abuse of social media,” he added.
The CS said digital communication and transactions were a growing reality of the public and private sectors and urged all arms of the government to invest commensurately in relevant training.
He noted that the adoption of technology had also seen a steady growth in cybercrime and other digital-driven crimes and challenged the players in law and order sectors including the Judiciary to incorporate digital training within its ranks.
“Nations around the world are pumping resources into research on cybersecurity…Our conflicts are going to move to the Judiciary, and the judges must be capacitated enough to help us resolve them,” he stated.
ICT CS Joe Mucheru said the new law was necessary to support the digital economy and called for its stringent application.
“People have been giving public holidays on social media, kill others online, and even publish content from different countries to mislead citizens. This habit must stop,” he said.
Interior Principal Secretary Dr Karanja Kibicho who chairs the NC4 said the unveiling of the Secretariat will deter rampant abuse and character assassinations on social media.
With the unveiling of the NC4 Secretariat, we have the requisite apparatus to crackdown misuse of digital technologies and social media.
The Committee comprises representatives from the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, the National Intelligence Service, the Ministry of the Interior, as well as representatives from the office of the Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions, Communications Authority of Kenya and the Central Bank among other agencies.