WHAT THE SEXUAL OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2026 MEANS FOR TECH
Kenya's proposed Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aims to modernize legal definitions to address digital-age crimes like sextortion, grooming, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The bill seeks to provide a legal framework for prosecuting sexual violence facilitated by modern technology.
Why it matters
It represents a critical legislative effort to bridge the gap between outdated laws and the realities of digital-facilitated gender-based violence.
Kenya’s Sexual Offences Act was passed in 2006, when smartphones were not yet in most Kenyan pockets, and generative AI did not exist. Twenty years on, the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2026 proposes to bring the Act up to date with how technology is increasingly used to facilitate sexual and gender-based violence: through a phone, an account, a group chat, or even an image that was never real.
The National Council on the Administration of Justice adopted the draft at its 38th meeting in July 2026 for submission to the National Assembly. It is now before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee. What the bill does and why it matters:
What do we need to know about this amendment?
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in