Millie Odhiambo, a member of parliament for Suba North, has issued a caution to those who post private images of their partners online in an effort to disgrace them, particularly those who target national leaders.
Ms. Odhiambo stated during a parliamentary discussion on sexual harassment that the House should draft legislation to ensure that those who commit such crimes receive the heaviest penalties possible.
“I don’t support the death penalty, but if I did, I would support the death penalty for such people, but since I don’t support the death penalty, I think we need to enhance the sentencing to life imprisonment,” she said.
Ms. Odhiambo continued, saying those who humiliate others online had to consider the potential fallout.
“At least if you are not bothered about that person (the victim), have mercy on their children,” She said.
Consensual or not, posting of nudity is an offence under the Computer Misuse & Cybercrimes Act, which specifically provides for a jail term of up to two years or a fine of Sh200,000.
Section 37 of the Act reads: “A person who transfers, publishes, or disseminates, including making a digital depiction available for distribution or downloading through a telecommunications network or through any other means of transferring data to a computer, the intimate or obscene image of another person commits an offence and is liable, on conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both”.
