Kenya Government Bolsters Cybersecurity Measures Amid Increasing Global Threats

Nairobi, Kenya—In a move to fortify the nation’s digital landscape, the Kenyan government is enhancing its cybersecurity infrastructure and implementing up-to-date policies. The initiative aims to protect the country’s growing e-commerce and digital sectors from escalating global cyber threats.

According to a new release by the Kenya News Agency, Communications, and Digital Economy Eliud Owalo, the government is adopting a multi-faceted strategy to secure its online infrastructure, including the e-Citizen platform. Owalo made the statement at the National Security Symposium at the National Defence University-Kenya in Lanet, Nakuru County. The symposium was also attended by Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.

The Cabinet Secretary highlighted that the government is actively collaborating with both public and private sectors, foreign governments, and organizations. Owalo emphasized that Kenya is strategically positioned in the global cybersecurity landscape due to its significant investments in ICT infrastructure and digitization.

“Currently, we have 13,382 government services on the e-Citizen platform. To prevent attacks, we conduct periodic security audits and penetration tests, implement remediation actions to address vulnerabilities, strengthen infrastructure and networks, and ensure continuous monitoring of network traffic,” Owalo stated.

The government’s approach includes not only defending against attacks but also threat anticipation, detection, response, and recovery. This is part of Kenya’s commitment to the 4th Industrial Revolution, where cybersecurity is a crucial aspect across multiple sectors, including digital government and business, infrastructure, and innovation-driven entrepreneurship.

During the symposium, Owalo also disclosed plans to establish 25,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots and 1450 digital hubs across the country. In addition, the government is extending its fiber-optic network by 100,000 kilometers and is partnering with local telecommunication companies to roll out locally assembled smartphones.

The Cabinet Secretary also mentioned the multi-stakeholder cybersecurity roundtable team, unveiled in July, that comprises actors from both the public and private sectors. The team’s role is to collaboratively devise innovative ways to handle cyber threats and design policies for emerging and current challenges.

Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale underscored the national security implications of cybersecurity. He stated that without adequate cybersecurity measures, there could be no guarantee of national security. Duale called for a continuous focus on staying ahead of cyber criminals and hackers.

Kenya ranks 35th on the global list of cyber threats, highlighting the urgency of these initiatives. Numerous institutions in the country have faced cyberattacks, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures.