Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

PRESS SUMMARY DRAFTING OF KENYAS 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.