Ichung'wah wants DCI to enforce law to tame those using social media to insult leaders
Junet pointed to recent AI-generated images of President William Ruto in a coffin, describing them as a disturbing trend of using social media to mock leaders.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah has called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to enforce the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act of 2018, emphasising the need to hold individuals accountable for online insults directed at leaders.
Speaking on Friday, Ichung'wah urged security officers to act decisively to curb character assassination on social media platforms.
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“If there’s anybody who has violated the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act, arrest them, make it public, and take them before the courts of law so that it becomes a deterrent to those misusing computers and AI not only to insult but also to do very uncivilised things,” Ichung'wah stated.
“You must make use of the laws that we created and enacted in Parliament in 2018. Implement that law to end this shenanigan of people insulting each other with impunity,” he added.
He also urged Kenyan youth to show respect and restraint in their use of social media. “Even if you do not respect me as a leader, then respect the families of those leaders. You might not like Speaker (Moses) Wetang’ula, but remember he has a parent,” he added.
Minority Leader Junet Mohamed echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the misuse of freedom of speech. “There is freedom of speech, but if someone makes an offence, they should be taken to court as per that law,” Junet said.
He pointed to recent AI-generated images of President William Ruto in a coffin, describing them as a disturbing trend of using social media to mock leaders. “Don’t put me in a coffin before my time reaches. Only God will know when I will be laid in a coffin,” Junet added.
The leaders’ remarks come amidst rising public concern over national security following a spate of abductions. In December alone, seven individuals, including Peter Muteti, Billy Mwangi Bernard Kavuli, Steve Kavingo Mbisi and Rony Kiplang’at, were reportedly kidnapped.
Despite linking evidence, the National Police Service has denied involvement in the incidents.
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