The digital landscape in Kenya is evolving rapidly, and with it comes a critical need for increased awareness and protection in the online realm. Stepping up to this challenge, The Youth Cafe, fresh off their success as second runner-up in KICTANet’s KenSafeSpaces Policy Hackathon during the Africa Tech Policy Summit in May 2025, has launched an impactful initiative: “Cyber Rights Campus Connect.” An award-winning, youth-led project set to empower university students across Kiambu County with vital knowledge about Kenya’s Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (CMCA) of 2018.
To get set in motion, the program kicked off on July 18, 2025, at the United States International University (USIU) by drawing students into a dynamic forum designed to:
- Demystify the complexities of the CMCA 2018,
- Address prevalent online abuses, and
- Illuminate the far-reaching implications of cybercrimes in the Kenyan context.
The session, expertly moderated by The Youth Cafe’s own Shirley Jemeli, and featuring a lively discussion that was also live-streamed across various social media platforms, explored critical aspects of digital safety among youth, cybercrime laws, and the future of online rights. Esteemed industry experts – including Talo Martini Harrison, a cybersecurity expert and Technical Director at Afrensics E-Systems, Caroline Kasusi, the IT Club President at USIU and a Microsoft Gold Student Ambassador, and Blair Angima Oigoro, a Public Interest Litigator and Member of The Youth Cafe – led the participants through valuable perspectives.
They brought to the forefront the need for respect for the rule of law, not only among young people but also within institutions entrusted with upholding it. This isn’t a moment to attribute issues to generational gaps; rather, it’s a wake-up call for both young and old to collaboratively foster accountability and adapt to ever-changing cultural shifts. Further, they emphasised the importance of industry players to capacitate those responsible for interpreting and representing citizens on accurate constitutional quoting and referencing parliamentary acts.
Driving a Responsible Digital Future
The “Cyber Rights Campus Connect” initiative paints a clear picture of why deliberate policy solutions are paramount in Kenya’s current digital and political landscape, especially concerning digital activism – a fundamental principle we have always championed as KICTANet on establishing a crucial framework for a responsible digital future in Kenya.
At its core, Cyber Rights Campus Connect emphasises safety and security, working diligently to protect individuals online and foster secure digital environments for all, and extends to combating gender-based violence, specifically safeguarding young girls and women in learning institutions.
As this initiative champions sustainability and trustworthiness in the development and deployment of digital technologies, it issues a compelling call to the entire society: “Everyone must take responsibility for advocating for human rights, including digital rights and associated freedoms.“
By instilling these principles in the next generation of digital citizens, the aim is to ensure that the digital world truly serves the best interests of the entire Kenyan population. This includes fostering innovation while upholding ethical standards and building public confidence in emerging technologies.
Thanks to the visionary support of the KenSafeSpaces project and funding by the European Union through Internews, we can anticipate seeing more deliberate and sustained approaches to promoting safe and inclusive digital spaces throughout Kenya. And this initiative by The Youth Cafe is a shining example of how focused efforts can lead to significant, positive impacts for the present and future of our digital society.