NAIROBI: Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has criticized a proposed law meant to regulate Artificial Intelligence, arguing that a Sh5million fine is far too small to stop big tech companies from breaking the rules.

Speaking on Monday during discussions on the Artificial Intelligence Bill 2026, the Senator warned that whileSh5million might seem like a lot to an individual, it is “pocket change” for wealthy multinational corporations.

She argued that for these giant firms, such a small penalty would not act as a real deterrent and might simply be seen as a minor cost of doing business.

The proposed law aims to punish people or companies who use AI to create harmful content or cause disruptions with either a Sh5million fine or a two-year jail term.

However, Senator Nyamu wants the law to be changed so that the punishment fits the offender. She suggested a classification system where corporations face much stiffer penalties than individuals.

“We are not after the Sh5million; we are after deterring people,” she said, explaining that the goal of the law should be to make people so afraid of the consequences that they wouldn’t even think about misusing the technology.

Beyond the risks of “deepfakes” and political lies, the Senator also raised concerns about the education sector.

She warned that if AI is not strictly controlled, it could be used to interfere with learning systems and student results.

As Kenya moves forward with the bill, Nyamu and other lawmakers are under pressure to find a balance between encouraging new technology and making sure those who abuse it are held truly accountable.