The Government of Kenya enacted the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (CMCA) in 2018 to, among other things, protect confidentiality, integrity and availability of critical computer systems, programs and data. The Act establishes the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4) to coordinate national cybersecurity matters in the Republic of Kenya.
Section 70 of the Act empowers the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Interior and National Administration to make Regulations toward effective implementation and enforcement of the provisions contained in the Act. A Taskforce was constituted to develop the CMCA Regulations, which are now up for public participation.
In compliance with constitutional principles and other regulatory frameworks of Kenya, the CMCA Regulations Taskforce is conducting public participation activities in various ways including;
- Raising awareness through advertisements in the mainstream media for purposes of increasing citizen interest to participate in the process.
- Identifying and holding both physical and online meetings with all key stakeholders in the cyber domain.
- Contacting stakeholders through written communication, inviting them to public meetings and requesting for submission of written memoranda.
- Establishing a feedback mechanism, including drafting and presenting relevant reports.
The public participation exercise seeks to align with the principles of good governance, prioritize citizen involvement and inclusivity and comply with constitutional mandates for public participation. This exercise will not only enhance government-citizen relations but also help generate diverse and innovative ideas, and ensure a platform for public input on GoK initiatives.
