Kenya is a step closer to kickstarting its much anticipated online identification system that aims to provide each internet user with their own digital identification certificate.

Kenya’s government, through its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Authority, plans launching the country’s integrated cyber security framework on Tuesday.

The framework is intended to bring together Kenya’s Cyber Security Strategy, National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI) and the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team to tackle online insecurities in the country.

Government further plans to implement into the framework technology dubbed PKI: a system that secures e-commerce transactions.

“Through PKI the government will set up an online identity and verification system where each citizen will be issued with a unique online identity (digital certificate) that will be required whenever they take part in online transactions,” the ICT authority said ahead of the launch.

According to the ministry, PKI is further set to address four key elements of security: authentication, non-repudiation, confidentiality and integrity.
The certificates will be available for corporations and individuals alike.

The Kenya Cyber Security Report 2014 indicated that online transactions in Kenya are in danger owing to a lack of appropriate technology protect users’ information.

“In February 2014, we conducted a study of the top Online Payment and shopping Sites in Kenya. We discovered that all of the top four Online Payment Sites have no client side encryption security mechanisms in place,” the report noted.

“The growing number of online shoppers is exposed to the risk of getting their sensitive information leaked. This means that the credentials used to access the websites, if intercepted; can be viewed in plain text,” the report read.