Author: David Indeje

A proposed bill, The Kenya Information and Communication (Amendment) Bill, 2019, intended to curb the misuse of social media has raised concerns from the public that it is a threat to free speech. The Bill, sponsored by Malava MP Malulu Injendi, will require online users to seek clearance with the Communications Authority, failure to which could attract KSh500,000 fine or a two-year jail sentence. “The objective of this Bill is to amend the Kenya Information and Communications Act to provide for regulation of use of social media platforms,” says Injendi. **** Clause 3 seeks to introduce a new Part to…

Three members of the Nubian Community through its Nubian Rights Forum will testify before the Kenyan High Court to show how they will ‘suffer significant discrimination’ if the Huduma Number system is implemented as proposed by the government.  The National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) is popularly known as the Huduma Number. The NIIMS is intended to be a single repository of personal information of all Kenyans as well as foreigners resident in Kenya. The hearing was heard before a three-judge bench composed of Justices Weldon Korir, Mumbi Ngugi and Pauline Nyamweya.  Counsel Waikwa Wanyoike, representing the petitioners  says, “For…

“The law cannot fix what technology has broken,” Anand Venkatanatayanan, National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) Expert Witness told the Kenyan High Court on Tuesday on behalf of the Nubian community on the viability of the centralized data collection system. Anand was being cross-examined by Lawyer Njoroge Regeru representing the Ministry of Interior said, “For a project that affects everyone, one would expect a lot of information to be available about it, but lack of it creates mistrust.” According to Anand, the state cannot have data protection without a data protection law in place in terms of functionality.  Regeru argued…

“Is democracy a necessary condition for development and social progress? Which political system is the best enabler for development in a nation like Kenya: a presidential or a parliamentary political system? These are the arguments that Prof. Anyang Nyong’o writes as the premise in his book ‘Presidential or Parliamentary in Kenya? That he advocates for the adoption of a parliamentary political system. The book examines the weakness of the presidential system of governance, especially its role in denuding democratic ideas and creating post-election conflicts. “The book seeks to persuade Kenyans to adopt a parliamentary democracy as we engage in intense…

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) on Monday delivered a widely expected interest rate hold at 9 percent due to the relatively stable inflation rate and current ‘appropriate economy stance but said they will remain vigilant on the possible effects of the increased uncertainties in the external environment. This is the 16th consecutive month that the MPC has held the lending rate at that percentage. The meeting was held against a backdrop of domestic macroeconomic stability sustained optimism on economic growth prospects, heightened global uncertainties and volatility in international markets. Dr. Patrick Njoroge, CBK governor, who chaired the Monetary Policy…

Tanzania’s central bank has fined five commercial banks over $800,000 for breaching anti-money laundering rules. The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) said the fines were imposed “For failure to conduct proper customer due diligence and file suspicious transaction reports to the (state-run) Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).” African Banking Corporation (T) Limited TZS 145 million shillings Equity Bank (Tanzania) Limited TZS 580 million shillings I&M Bank (T) Limited TZS 655 $284,782.61 UBL Bank (T) Limited TZS 325 million shillings Habib African Bank Limited TZS 175 million shillings I&M Bank was slapped with the biggest fine at 655 million Tanzanian shillings ($284,782.61), followed…