In the landmark ruling, a three-judge bench nullified Sections 22 and 23 of the law, which criminalised the publication of “false, misleading or fictitious information” online. The decision follows years of legal challenges by civil society groups and digital rights organisations who argued that the provisions had increasingly been used to arrest journalists, bloggers and government critics for online commentary. Digital rights lawyer Mercy Mutemi, who represented the bloggers’ association, previously told the court that the case was about safeguarding Kenya’s democratic space online. Since its enactment, the law has been linked to several high-profile arrests of bloggers, journalists and activists accused of publishing false information online. Digital rights advocates say these cases created a climate of fear that discouraged open discussion online.

Source: Standard Digital March 06, 2026 14:59 UTC