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{
    "id": 784416,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/784416/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 240,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Josphat Wachira",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13441,
        "legal_name": "Josphat Kabinga Wachira",
        "slug": "josphat-kabinga-wachira-2"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon Temporary Deputy Speaker. I support this Bill. Since much has been spoken on the same, I will go to the points I feel are necessary. When we listened to the Mover of this Bill and thereafter submission by the Chairman of the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, we realise that there is a lot of relationship between the two Committees as far as this Bill is concerned. As we discuss this Bill, we need to look at its implementation. We have had Bills that have been put in place in this country but because of lack of capacity and necessary systems, implementing them has been a challenge. This Bill touches on prosecution and security, thereby bringing in our security forces that will do prosecutions and much of its implementation. So, even as we support this Bill, I urge that were look at the possibility of having a Joint Committee to finalise it before it comes to the full House. The issue we are discussing is one that has caused this country a lot of loss of revenue and time by some of our people who spend time on bullying, stalking and conning others through the facilities that come with technology. We have people who have been abused. We have people who have ended up with mental disorders because of bullying through some of this technology. So, this is a Bill that we need to take seriously. It is a Bill that will have an economic value. We are aware that although not spoken out there, our banks are losing to the tune of Kshs 20 billion annually out of misuse of the cyberspace through intrusion, conning and hacking. All these things happen to our Government installations, telecommunication companies, mobile money, Saccos, micro-finance organisations and cooperative societies. Long hours are lost by our people in this country engaging in some of the things that are unnecessary such as pornography, surfing the internet while they would have put that time to better use. We need to come up and put in place systems that will prevent that kind of wastage of time. We may not value it now but even as we continue we know our population is growing and systems are becoming much more complicated. People out there are getting to understand technology much more than we are doing, internationally and locally. It is high time that we as a country start preparing ourselves not just on the prosecution side that is brought by this Bill but we also need to invest heavily in technology regarding that is being misused. This is so that we can have effective infrastructural cyber security measures that will bring firewalls that will ensure that we do not let people access some of the things that are misused. We also know that through the same technology, recruitment and radicalisation of our children is also taking place. We need to come in through this Bill to ensure that information that is flowing in our systems is not only economically beneficial to the country but also socially. We need to support our security forces by providing information that can lead to radicalisation. I am cognisant of the fact that we as users in Third World are using a lot of devices and systems that are coming from the international manufacturers. We rely on their trust and goodwill that whatever they give us is not gathering information about ourselves and countries. If you think of it one gets worried that some of the equipment being used by our security forces could be collecting information and probably send it elsewhere internationally. Therefore, we need to invest heavily and ensure that this Bill is implemented in the right manner. The ICT Department can do it but let there be serious support from the administration and security. I believe that a joint body should be formed of experts from ICT and security forces so that they come up with a center that will not only be looking at what is happening but also carrying out intensive research. That is what will help us ensure that we are on top of things. We know that technology is changing every day. We know that issues such as pornography could be a problem of today and we may be faced with different challenges The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}