Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Faith Odhiambo. [Photo: Courtesy]
By The Weekly Vision Reporter
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Faith Odhiambo, has issued a stark warning over the controversial Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, describing it as a dangerous legal tool that has already claimed lives, most notably that of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody.
Speaking at the Intergenerational Dialogue on Women in Leadership in Law forum organised by FEMNET in Nairobi, Odhiambo likened the Act to “a sword used to stab and abduct Kenyans,” and questioned the nation’s willingness to wait for yet another tragedy before acting.
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“The cyber security law was challenged by LSK and others. The case is still pending in the Court of Appeal,” she noted. “Now that Albert is dead, are we going to wait for yet another Albert to die before something is done?”
The Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, signed into law in 2018, was intended to tackle the rising threat of cybercrime amid rapid technological growth. However, from its inception, it sparked controversy and legal battles.
Shortly after its enactment, the Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE), alongside other civil society groups, moved to court challenging its constitutionality. Their case led to the suspension of 26 sections of the Act pending final determination.
In 2020, Justice Makau of the High Court ruled that the law was constitutional in its entirety, a decision now under appeal.
Odhiambo’s critique did not end with the law. She also took aim at women in leadership positions who, she says, are undermining constitutional values and failing the very communities they are meant to uplift.
“When you see women lawmakers joking about violating the constitution and electoral laws, it’s not just embarrassing, it’s dangerous,” she stated.
She lamented the growing trend of women leaders using their platforms for self-objectification rather than empowerment, especially in a country grappling with widespread sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), gender-based violence (GBV), and femicide.
“Some of these women were elevated through the hard work of others who believed in their ability to protect and inspire. Yet now, they appear to be doing the opposite.”
Odhiambo’s remarks come at a time when Kenya continues to debate the limits of free speech online, the right to privacy, and the state’s use of legal tools to silence dissenting voices. The death of Albert Ojwang has become a chilling symbol in this wider national conversation.
As the legal battle over the Cybercrimes Act awaits a hearing at the Court of Appeal, Odhiambo’s message was clear: Kenya cannot afford to ignore the warning signs, least of all when lives are already being lost.
