Kenya’s government says it has taken serious precautions to ensure that a pending digital identity register for the country is safeguarded from cyber insecurity.

“We are of course alive to the fact that everyone is worried about the security of the networks and security of our information,” cabinet secretary in charge of Information and technology, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, said during the International Data Corporation (IDC) East African conference in Nairobi.

“We have completed the cyber security master plan and I can assure everyone that our networks and information are secure and will be secure,” he added.

He said data generated is planned to be secured in a way that enhances its use in government and development functions.

The cabinet secretary; however, decried a lack of appropriate skills in the country to manage the digital register.

He said that the private sector could do more to help bridge the skills gap in government digital services.

“If you look across the world, of countries that has deployed ICT in the management of government. There is no government anywhere on earth that has sufficient resources to deploy effectively and acquire all the skills that the government requires,” Matiang’i said.

“Government always works in partnership with the private sector,” he added.

The cabinet secretary further hinted that the national registry could be launched in the next two weeks.