The new Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and The Digital Economy, William Kabogo has outlined his plans to drive Kenya’s digital transformation. He has promised to digitize government services so services are efficient, accessible and timely.

Full Digitization

At the handover ceremony at the Ministry’s offices in Nairobi, Kabogo said the Ministry will aim to digitize 100% of its operations before digitizing all government services. He noted this is key to the Digital Superhighway and Kenya’s Digital Economy.

“We will serve Kenyans in time and in efficiency through digital tools,” Kabogo said.

Responsible Use of Social Media and Data Protection

Kabogo emphasized the need to use social media responsibly and respect constitutional freedoms. He urged Kenyans to use the platforms for positive messaging that impacts society, balance freedom of expression with ethical communication.

To build trust in the digital space he promised to strengthen the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to ensure that:

• Citizens know their data rights.
• Data protection laws will be enforced to protect privacy.
• “Data must be used positively and ethically to underpin trust and accountability in the digital economy,” Kabogo added.

Collaboration and Transparency

The outgoing Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi said transparency and accountability in communication is key to keeping citizens informed about government policies and programmes. Mudavadi also urged for more digitalization of education and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

“Let’s position Kenya as a tech and tourism leader and grow our global reputation and economy,” he said.

Mudavadi also asked media and private sector to be accountable and use their platforms to market Kenya as a regional innovation and development hub.

Technology for Socio-Economic Growth

Both Kabogo and Mudavadi said technology will drive Kenya’s socio-economic growth. They asked for:

• More AI innovations to creativity and efficiency.
• Impactful and sustainable projects through technology.
• Public private sector collaboration to boost Kenya’s competitiveness.

Attendees and Next

The event was attended by ministry officials including Prof. Edward Kisiang’ani and Eng. John Tanui. Kabogo’s appointment is a big step towards aligning Kenya’s ICT strategy with the global trends for a digital future.

The Kenyan government has responded to the unusual wave of emails sent to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Kenyans calling for the cancellation of King Willem-Alexander’s visit to Kenya. On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs termed the actions as cyberbullying aimed at undermining the government’s credibility.

Government’s Statement on Cyber Activities

The email campaign and other online activities are a continuation of the June 2024 Gen Z protests and have since morphed into organized cyber campaigns. The statement reads:

1. Activities:

• AI deepfakes and fabricated stories.
• Disinformation campaigns against foreign governments and international bodies.
• Auto-generated emails by social media influencers.

2. Objectives of the Campaign:

• To discredit government programs.
• To block high-level visits like the Dutch King.
• To stop Kenya from getting international and regional positions.
• To intimidate the international community.

Government to International Partners

The Ministry has assured that measures are being put in place to address this.

• Technology Responsibility Charter: To develop a framework for accountability and ethical practices in the Kenyan digital space.
• Diplomats: The Ministry has assured diplomatic missions, UN agencies and international organizations that it will address any issues raised by these campaigns.

Dutch Ministry’s Response

NOS reported that the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs received over 300 emails from Kenyans. The emails raised concerns on:

• Human rights abuses.
• Abductions and disappearances of government critics.

But the Dutch Ministry has not cancelled King Willem-Alexander’s visit, so it seems they are taking a measured approach.

The Background: Frustration and Digital Activism

The email campaign is a manifestation of growing anger among Kenyans over government actions, particularly on human rights and governance.

• June 2024 Protests: The Gen Z protests against the Finance Bill were the straw that broke the camel’s back for online activism.
• AI and Social Media: Activists are using AI to amplify their campaigns making it harder to track and counter.

What’s to come?

As the government tackles cyber campaigns, it has to balance freedom of expression with responsible digital practices. The Technology Responsibility Charter will be key in addressing these issues while protecting citizens’ right to dissent.

Meanwhile, the international community will be closely monitoring how Kenya navigates these digital protests and their broader implications for its governance and global reputation.

All social media platforms in Kenya must have physical offices in the country, the Ministry of Interior has directed. The directive was announced on Thursday January 16, 2025 to address accountability and cybersecurity as disinformation, online abuse and manipulation on digital platforms continues to rise.

Why the Directive

This was after a meeting chaired by Interior PS Raymond Omollo with key stakeholders in the telecommunication and social media industry. The meeting was to address:

1. Cybersecurity
2. Responsible use of social media platforms.
3. Technology for service delivery without gagging free speech.

Highlights:

• Accountability: Government said physical offices would make operators responsible.
• Curbing Misuse: Measures to address harassment, hate speech, incitement to violence and online crimes were discussed.
• Consensus: Stakeholders agreed on tougher measures to ensure ethical use of digital platforms.

Government on Social Media Abuse

The directive comes as the Ruto government is being criticized on social media including protests using AI generated content.

• President William Ruto has expressed concern over online abuse, told the youth to engage in constructive conversations.
• Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen recently said individuals misusing social media will face legal action:

“If we don’t do that we will not have a country. We want to bring order to our country.”

Consequences of the Directive

This is a major shift in the government’s approach to regulating digital platforms and will have:

1. Increased Accountability Physical offices will enable authorities to engage with social media companies directly for swift resolution of hate speech, fake news and other cybercrimes cases.
2. Freedom of Expression vs Regulation Government says we must balance freedom of expression with responsible use. But will this lead to censorship or silence dissent?
3. Operational Challenges for Social Media Companies Global tech companies will need to invest in local infrastructure which will affect their operations and business model in Kenya.
4. Cybersecurity By bringing stakeholders together government wants to strengthen its cybersecurity framework to address local and international online threats.

Global Perspective

This is a global trend, other countries like India and Nigeria have done similar. overposting.ocial media within their borders.

The National Assembly Appointments Committee has approved William Kabogo, Mutahi Kagwe and Lee Kinyanjui for top jobs. Kabogo, former Kiambu Governor, takes over as Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Innovation and Digital Economy in President Ruto’s government.

Focus on ICT and Social Media Regulation

At his vetting, Kabogo said he will focus on youth online and regulate social media and artificial intelligence (AI) in Kenya. While acknowledging the importance of freedom of expression, he proposed measures to curb online misuse including hate speech and cyber threats.

Kabogo said he will act fast:

“We have technical people who can implement clear ways to address social media misuse. Balancing freedom of expression and responsible online behaviour will be my priority.”

This comes as government is worried about social media’s role in protests and public dissent.

History of Cyberspace Tensions

Ruto’s government has always blamed social media for national security challenges. After last year’s youth led protests against the Finance Bill, then-Defence CS Aden Duale deployed the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to counter “threats planned and orchestrated through cyberspace.” Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen recently warned against online misuse, a signal of a government crackdown on dissent.

Kabogo’s Chequered Past

Despite his approval, Kabogo’s appointment has raised eyebrows due to his limited ICT experience and controversial past.

Net Worth and Career

Kabogo declared a net worth of Ksh 3.01 billion comprising of real estate, shares and other assets. He said he implemented good ICT policies during his time as Kiambu Governor but his critics question his qualifications for this job.

Alleged Drug Trafficking Links

In 2010, then-Internal Security Minister George Saitoti named Kabogo in a list of MPs allegedly involved in drug trafficking. Kabogo has always denied these allegations, calling the evidence baseless.

Mercy Keino’s Death

Kabogo’s name was also linked to the 2011 death of university student Mercy Keino. At his vetting, he denied any involvement, citing a court inquest that cleared him.

“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Kabogo said.

The court found that Keino died in a hit and run accident not foul play.

Challenges Ahead

As the new ICT CS, Kabogo has a tough job ahead of him including delivering the Digital Superhighway promised by the Kenya Kwanza government. His predecessor, Margaret Ndung’u, resigned after a short stint, citing government inefficiency. Kabogo has to navigate policy challenges while facing growing public scrutiny of his leadership.

Kabogo’s To-Do List

1. Digital Superhighway: Implement infrastructure projects to increase internet connectivity across the country.
2. Social Media Regulation: Balance freedom of expression with efforts to curb misuse and hate speech.
3. Youth Engagement: Promote responsible AI and technology use among Kenya’s tech literate youth.

We shall be watching on how he progressess in the ministry given his controversial past.