Inside Ruto's new laws to protect citizens from online crimes, land grabbing, and wildlife risks

President William Ruto signs the Supplementary Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2024 to law at State House, Nairobi on August 5, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Monday, October 20, 2025

The government has moved to tighten oversight of online activities with a law that allows authorities to shut down websites and apps involved in illegal conduct. On October 15, 2025, President William Ruto signed the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 into law, banning the use of digital platforms for crimes such as child exploitation, terrorism, cultism, cyber harassment, identity theft, and fraud. The signing coincided with the announcement of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s death.

The amendment empowers the National Computer and Cyber-Crimes Coordination Committee (N4Cs) to seek court approval to block websites or apps found facilitating illegal activities. The new Section 46A states: "If an authorised person believes that a computer system, website or digital device is being used to promote illegal activities, child pornography, terrorism or extremist religious activities and cultic practices, the authorised person may apply to court for an order for the removal of content or materials from the computer system, website or digital device." Wajir East MP Aden Mohamed introduced the Bill as a private member’s initiative.

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The timing of the law follows a September 10, 2025, court decision that questioned whether existing legislation adequately addressed the sharing of pornographic content online. The Act introduces precise definitions for terms like "computer misuse," "cybercrime," "assets," "identity theft," and "virtual account" to help authorities trace, freeze, and recover proceeds from cybercrime. Courts now have the power to order the removal of illegal or extremist material from digital platforms after successful prosecutions.

Alongside the cybercrime law, President Ruto signed six additional Bills. The Privatisation Act 2025, which replaces the 2005 Act, provides a legal framework for selling public enterprises to improve efficiency. The privatisation plan targets Sh100 billion from the sale of companies such as the Kenya Pipeline Company to help bridge a Sh871 billion gap in the 2025/26 national budget. The law creates a Privatisation Authority to take over from the old commission and establishes a Privatisation Appeals Board to settle disputes.

Other laws include the National Police Service Commission (Amendment) Act 2024, Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Act 2023, Land (Amendment) Act 2022, National Land Commission (Amendment) Act 2023, and the Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Act 2025.

The NPSC (Amendment) Act, sponsored by Suna West MP Peter Masara, focuses on the mental health of police officers. It requires the establishment of psychosocial support centres across all counties to provide counselling and promote well-being among officers and other members of the service.

The Land (Amendment) Act, introduced by Ruiru MP Simon King’ara, mandates that all public land allocated to government institutions or set aside for public purposes be registered and published in the Kenya Gazette. "This ensures that all public land and land set aside by developers for public amenities such as schools and hospitals is registered and publicised. This will prevent any grabbing of the land or its later use for a private purpose," the National Assembly explained.

The NLC (Amendment) Act 2023, sponsored by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, extends the commission’s powers to investigate historical land injustices for five more years, allowing reviews of past public land allocations until October 2030. "The extension shall allow the commission to resolve land issues in Coastal counties and issues relating to public land previously earmarked for settlement of landless persons by the government," said Baya.

The Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Act 2023, sponsored by Lamu East MP Capt. Ruweida Obo now compensates communities for a wider range of wildlife-related injuries and damages. The law covers incidents involving whales, sharks, stingrays, stonefish, elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, hyenas, crocodiles, cheetahs, and buffalo. It also provides compensation for crop, livestock, or property damage caused by animals such as zebras, eland, wildebeest, hippos, snakes, and wild dogs.

“This will ensure that persons who live along water bodies are entitled to payment of compensation as a result of death or injury from the specified wildlife species,” Ms Obo said when presenting her Bill. Implementation will be supported by funds from the Supplementary Budget 2022/23, with the Kenya Wildlife Service developing a system to clear a backlog of claims exceeding Sh2.6 billion. Families of victims can receive Sh5 million once claims are verified, addressing delays that previously left some victims waiting years.

Data from the Kenya Wildlife Service shows that baboons and monkeys contribute most to human-wildlife conflict. The government has also strengthened Problem Animal Control teams, equipping them to respond quickly and prevent further losses.

The Air Passenger Service Charge (Amendment) Act consolidates funds from the Tourism Promotion Fund into a single Tourism Fund to increase efficiency and finance tourism projects.

These legislative changes collectively enhance protection against cybercrime, safeguard public land, ensure police well-being, provide compensation for wildlife conflicts, and promote efficiency in public sector management, reflecting the government’s efforts to modernise governance across multiple areas.