Country · Africa
Kenya: cyberbullying law for schools
Bottom line for counselors: The law sets some anti-bullying rules but leaves much of the detail to schools, and online bullying is covered. Check your school's own policy. Takedown help is limited, so report harmful posts to the platform first. Serious online abuse can be a crime.
Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.
Country
Kenya
The Children Act names cyberbullying as abuse, cyber harassment carries up to 10 years in prison, and phones are banned in schools.
Compare with anywhere elseProtection score
One point for each of the seven questions answered yes, half a point for partly. Where a rule is set nationally, the national answer counts. A quick guide, not a legal rating.
- Partly:
Do schools have to have anti-bullying rules?
Partly. No law requires schools to have anti-bullying rules, but the Children Act 2022 protects children from abuse, and Teachers Service Commission guidelines tell schools how to keep learners safe and curb bullying.
Legal detail and sources
A Basic Education Bill, 2026 is before Parliament. Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (Kenyans.co.ke) as well as official sources.
- Yes:
Do those rules cover online bullying?
Yes. The Children Act 2022 lists cyberbullying, cyber harassment and cyberstalking among forms of online abuse of children.
- Partly:
Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?
Partly. A 2025 amendment let the national cybercrimes committee order websites and apps blocked, but the High Court suspended that power and later declared it unconstitutional.
Legal detail and sources
Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2025. Source note: this answer relies on legal commentary or other non-official summaries (Digital Policy Alert), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- No:
Is there a minimum age for social media?
No legal minimum age for social media. Processing a child's personal data needs a parent's or guardian's consent under the Data Protection Act.
- Yes:
What are the rules on phones at school?
Yes. Phones are banned in basic education schools under long-standing Ministry of Education rules.
Legal detail and sources
Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (The Standard), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Yes:
When is online abuse a crime?
Yes. Cyber harassment is a crime under section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, with up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to Sh20 million.
Legal detail and sources
A 2025 amendment widened the offence, including messages likely to lead someone to suicide. The High Court suspended parts of the new section 27 in October 2025, and in July 2026 the new blocking power and section 27(1)(b) were declared unconstitutional. Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (Capital FM) and other non-official summaries, not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
- Yes:
What guidance do staff and counselors get?
Yes. Teachers Service Commission guidelines set out what teachers must do to protect learners and prevent bullying.
Legal detail and sources
Source note: this answer draws on news reporting (Kenyans.co.ke), not an official legal text. Check the official text before relying on it.
Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with credit, under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 licence.