Kenya has moved to harden its digital defences as cyber-attacks against government systems, banks and mobile money platforms surge.
The East African country this week announced the rollout of a new Kenya Cyber Resilience (KCR) Project backed by the European Union to protect one of Africa’s most advanced digital economies.
The $3.56 million (€3 million), 36-month initiative, officially launched in Nairobi yesterday, comes as Kenya records millions of attempted cyber intrusions each year, ranging from phishing and malware to ransomware and denial-of-service attacks.
Government data and industry reports show that financial services, telecommunications, government digital platforms and healthcare systems remain the most targeted sectors.
Presiding over the launch, principal secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Steve Isaboke said the scale of Kenya’s digital success has made cyber security a national priority rather than a technical afterthought.
“Kenya’s leadership in mobile money, digital public services and innovation has also increased our exposure to sophisticated cyber threats. Cyber resilience is now essential to protecting our economy, our public trust and our national stability,” he said.
Over the past year alone, Kenyan authorities highlighted that cyber threats intensified as more than 20 000 government services moved online, while platforms such as mobile money, digital lending and e-citizen services became deeply embedded in daily life.
Banks and fintech firms have been particularly vulnerable to fraud attempts and data breaches, while telecom networks face persistent attacks aimed at disrupting connectivity or harvesting customer data.
The KCR Project is designed to respond to these risks by strengthening cyber security governance, institutional coordination and public awareness, while safeguarding critical digital infrastructure.
It is consistent with Kenya's National Cybersecurity Strategy and Digital Master Plan, transforming policy goals into operational capacity.
Eng. John Tanui, principal secretary for ICT and the digital economy, stated that: "Digital public services, financial systems and communications networks are now part of Kenya’s critical national infrastructure. Without strong cybersecurity, economic growth and public confidence are at risk."
A key pillar of the project is public inclusion. Nationwide cyber hygiene campaigns will target women, youth and users of digital public services, supported by an interactive online platform offering training and certification to build cyber skills at scale.
Funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France, alongside EstDev, the project also supports the protection of Critical Information Infrastructure and lays the groundwork for a future National Cybersecurity Agency to coordinate responses during major incidents.
Share
