By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya, 13 May 2026 - The Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy is in the process of engineering regulations that will ensure online safety in preparation for the highly anticipated 2027 General elections.
ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said that the Ministry is forming a multi-agency committee, which will include security agencies and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), to assess online safety and digital risks ahead of the elections.
The CS revealed this during a Senate proceeding on Tuesday, while responding to a question from Tana River senator Danson Mungatana regarding the government’s preparedness for the upcoming elections.
Kabogo said that the committee will release a comprehensive report by December to outline the digital guardrails that will be put in place to ensure online safety during the election period.
“ We have formed a committee with various stakeholders to ensure that we are prepared for what may happen during the election period. We will ensure that this is a continuous process not only in the election period,” Kabogo said.
The CS has also said that it is high time for leaders, parents, and guardians to remain vigilant and guide children and young people on the responsible use of the internet, not only during the election period but also in their day-to-day lives.
“ I say this cognisant that there are countries like the United Kingdom that do not have these regulations in their constitutions, but they have the modes of how they operate. So we need to start talking about ‘Safe Mtandaoni,’ and that can only come from all of us discussing how to do it,” the CS said.
The announcement comes at a time when young people are increasingly leveraging digital and social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction with President William Ruto’s administration, which has faced sustained criticism over the past three years over allegations of corruption, rising taxes, and the perceived incompetence of some government officials.
In 2024 and 2025, platforms such as X and TikTok were widely used to mobilize young people to take to the streets in protest, a wave of activism that triggered significant government responses, including a Cabinet reshuffle.
Kabogo has said that the ministry is working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution to ensure that the prosecution of individuals involved in cybercrime and online exploitation cases is conducted swiftly.
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