A proposed law disguised as a consumer protection initiative is raising alarm among digital rights experts and human rights defenders who warn it could usher in one of the most invasive State surveillance regimes in the country's history.
The Kenya Information and Communications (Amendment) Bill, 2025 brought before parliament by Aldai MP Maryanne Kitany seeks to "safeguard economic interests" of internet users.
In her justification, Kitany says the Bill seeks to develop and deploy quality metered billing system capable of monitoring customer usage, convert data into readable details and create invoices based on user's consumption.
But an analysis by digital rights experts point out a chilling plan for mass data collection, real-time monitoring of citizens and erosion of human rights by the State under the guise of regulating internet billing by internet service providers.
