Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, has warned Kenyans against creating fake public holidays, adding that the government will prosecute individuals behind the posts.
During the launch of the National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee (NCCCC) on Wednesday, November 4, the CS revealed that there would be repercussions for making the false posts, citing the fake Diwali Holiday Gazette Notice.
Matiang’i also noted that the newly launched government agency would help them in dealing with such incidents. On November 3, the CS was forced to issue a statement following the fake Diwali Gazette Notice going viral on social media.
"From those creating fake Diwali Gazette Notices to cyber terrorists hiding behind keyboards. Operationalization of the National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee signals repercussions awaiting criminals engaged in digital banditry," the CS revealed.
Matiang’i also added that they would roll out cybercrime training programs for government officials.
"Now is the time that we need to invest heavily in training people in preparing ourselves in dealing with the issue of cybersecurity. This is serious business. This is no child play. We need to be very serious about this thing," the CS stated.
On his part, ICT CS Joe Mucheru, decried the rising cases of fake holiday posts, adding that the NCCCC would also deal with misinforming death publications.
"The sad thing is that people will not only give public holidays but they even kill people on social media. We have lost some very important people on social media only to find out that they are alive yet their families have gone through so much disgrace and stress,” Mucheru lamented.
Also at the launch was Interior PS, Karanja Kibicho, who admitted that the government had previously faced challenges in prosecuting such cases because of the poor legal framework that existed.
"All we see is people being taken to court and within a short time the case collapses because of lack of appropriate law to convict them," he admitted.
Upon the launch, NCCCC will be mandated to detect, investigate and prosecute various acts of cybercrimes which include false publication.
Additionally, the National Police Service (NPS) clarified speculations on the closure of the Kenyan - Ethiopian border following misleading media reports.
"We wish to clarify that the country's border with Ethiopia has not been closed contrary to some erroneous media reporting. We have only enhanced our security posture along the border," read the statement.
