Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

PRESS SUMMARY

DRAFTING OF KENYA’S CYBER CRIME LAW BEGINS

Due to increased prevalence of cyber crime and related offences in Kenya,

the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions [ODPP] has established a

dedicated cyber crime unit to spearhead the prosecution of cyber criminals.

Cyber Crime in Kenya is increasingly becoming sophisticated through the use

of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) by criminals in and outside

Kenya. Kenya is indeed losing an estimated KSh. 2 billion (about US$23

million) annually through cyber crime. Additionally, cyber crime is now

recognized as a threat to national security, key ICT infrastructure and the

enjoyment of constitutional human rights of Kenyans such as the right to

privacy.

In recognition that there are inadequate laws currently in place for the

prosecution of cyber crime, the ODPP has organized a workshop to review

existing laws and develop a comprehensive draft bill on cyber crime in line

with relevant international best practices.

The workshop running from 12th to 17thJanuary, 2014 in Mombasa, has been

graced by among others; the CEO of the Kenya Law Reform Commission (Mr.

Joash Dache), the CEO of the Kenya National Council for Law Reporting (Mr.

Micheal Murungi), the Deputy DPP in charge of International, Economic and

Emerging Crimes (Mrs. Dorcas Odour) and Senior Assistant DPP in charge of

the ODPP Cyber crime Unit (Mr. Nicholas Mutuku).

Once finalized, the cyber crime draft Bill will form the basis for robust

stakeholders’ and public consultations as Kenya moves closer towards the

enactment of comprehensive cyber crime law in 2014.

15th January, 2014.