The Kenyan government’s proposal to establish a Police Digital Intelligence Unit has ignited intense public debate, particularly around surveillance, freedom of expression, and privacy. The unit, which is anchored in amendments to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act passed in 2024, comes against a backdrop of rising cyber-enabled crime and heightened political sensitivity following recent
President William Ruto’s administration has unveiled plans to establish a specialised digital intelligence unit as part of broader efforts to curb the misuse of the internet, a move that has immediately ignited debate over privacy, surveillance, and constitutional freedoms. The proposal, contained in the latest annual report on national security presented to Parliament, signals a