ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has warned parents or guardians who allow their children access to pornographic content through mobile phones or other digital devices that they would soon face legal consequences.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Citizen, Kabogo emphasized that protecting children from harmful online material must begin at home, advising parents to take full responsibility for their children’s digital safety.
“Leaving your phone with your child to play games, and that phone can access adult content, then you’re enabling harm. Children are curious, and they would want to explore, if we receive a report that you exposed your child to pornography, we will charge you because you’re destroying that child,” said Kabogo.
He said the Ministry is working on tightening regulations by amending the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act to curb digital misuse and harmful content.
The proposed changes will also address the growing issue of misinformation and inappropriate material online.
Kabogo revealed that Kenya is looking at global examples, including Switzerland’s move to introduce SIM cards designed for children that block access to specific online content.
The CS also criticized the increasing trend of generating disturbing and misleading content using artificial intelligence saying that such behavior undermines media freedoms and violates ethical boundaries.
Section 37 of Kenya’s current Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act already penalizes the sharing of obscene or intimate images, with fines of up to Ksh 200,000 or a jail term of up to two years or both.
Kabogo insisted the government’s goal is not to silence voices online, but to promote responsible and moral use of digital platforms.
“We’re not gagging anyone. We’re simply asking for responsible behavior,” he said.