KenyaComputer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018, unauthorised access
Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018 (No. 5 of 2018), s. 14 (unauthorised access)
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In force since 30 May 2018.
A computer misuse rule binding public and private bodies.
As of 5 September 2026.
What it requires
- Do not gain access to a computer system by infringing a security measure, knowing the access is unauthorised, including to copy, transfer or output data from it.
- Reading a public, unauthenticated page without defeating any access control has not itself been held to violate this section.
If you get it wrong
Criminal exposureYes
Private right of actionNo
Criminal exposure note
A fine of up to KES 5,000,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, on conviction (s. 14(1)).
Penalty structure
Fine only; the same subsection also allows imprisonment of up to three years instead of or in addition to the fine.
- Rule
- Fixed only
- As of
- 5 September 2026
- Currency
- KES
- Fixed cap
- 5,000,000
What this law does
Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.
Section 14 prohibits causing a computer system to perform a function, by infringing a security measure, with intent to gain access, knowing the access is unauthorised, and defines access broadly to include copying, transferring, altering or outputting data. The offence carries a fine of up to KES 5,000,000 or imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
Because the offence's trigger is infringing a security measure, a scraper reading a public, unauthenticated page without defeating any access control falls outside a plain reading of the provision.
When LexLint raises it
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Read the law
official consolidated Act text, Kenya Law (National Council for Law Reporting)
Every line above is drawn from the primary source linked here, read on the date shown. This is a research summary, not legal advice.