Uhuru Rejects Controversial ICT Bill

Tuesday, June 21, 2022 –President Uhuru Kenyatta has send back to Parliament the controversial Information Communication Technology Practitioners ICT Bill.

The head of State who had been presented with the Bill to sign it into law today Tuesday June 21, rejected and instead asked the proponents to consider members of the public by listening to them first and incorporating their views in the final draft of the paper.

Garissa Township Member of Parliament, Aden Duale, who first proposed the Bill had argued that those practicing in the IT sector must fulfill a Bachelor’s Degree minimum requirement and must also be vetted and certified by relevant bodies before diving into the trade.

Furthermore, the controversial Bill wanted a heavy penalty and punishment to anybody who would be found to have bought or used short cuts to acquire their working license.

“A person who, not being eligible to be licensed or registered under this Act, uses the title ICT practitioner as appropriate to a person so registered or licensed, which entitles such a person to use that title, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Ksh500,000 or an imprisonment not exceeding two years,” read the Bill in part.

In the document that was also reintroduced in Parliament by ANC nominated Senator Godfrey Osotsi, anybody who would fail to comply with summons from relevant governing body was going to be fined a whopping sh 50,000. He or she may also be subjected to a jail term of not more than six months.

The President, however, signed into law 10 other Parliamentary Bills among them 2022 Appropriation Bill, Supplementary Appropriation Bill and Finance Bill.