BY FELIX ASOHA
Kenya is stepping up efforts to combat cybercrime amid growing threats to the country’s digital space, with more than 2,000 critical cyber vulnerabilities identified and more than 4.8 million credentials reportedly leaked.
Interior PS Raymond Omollo said the figures demonstrate the scale of the threat facing the country as government services, businesses and everyday transactions increasingly move online.
He warned that Kenya must strengthen its capacity to prevent, investigate and prosecute cyber-related offences.
PS Omollo spoke on Thursday during the launch of the first Rapid Reference Guide on investigating and prosecuting offences under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.
He said the digital space was facing “serious and growing threats”, requiring stronger coordination among agencies responsible for cybersecurity, investigations and prosecution.
The PS said the fight against cybercrime could not be left to government agencies alone.
“The fight against cybercrime cannot be won by government alone,” he said, calling on members of the public to become active partners in protecting the country’s digital environment.
Omollo said Kenyans need to understand the threats they face online and know the measures they can take to protect themselves.
The PS also emphasised the need for stronger international cooperation, noting that cybercriminals, victims and digital infrastructure can be located in different jurisdictions.
Kenya has begun the process of acceding to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which is expected to strengthen cooperation in investigating cyber offences, prosecuting offenders and securing electronic evidence.
The PS said Kenya would be able to strengthen information-sharing and cooperation with other countries as it responds to increasingly sophisticated and cross-border cybercrime.
Communications Authority director general David Mugonyi said the new guide is intended to address gaps in the handling of cybercrime cases by giving investigators, prosecutors and other stakeholders a common understanding of the applicable legal and institutional framework.
He said the guide strengthens the link between cybersecurity incident response, investigation and prosecution.
Mugonyi described it as a practical resource that will help stakeholders understand what happens after a cybercrime is reported and how cases should move through the justice system.
The guide is expected to improve coordination between investigators, prosecutors, cybersecurity incident response teams and other government agencies, while helping them navigate the legal requirements surrounding digital evidence and cybercrime prosecutions.
Mugonyi said having a common framework would make it easier for different agencies to work together in responding to digital threats.
The launch comes at a time when Kenya’s rapid digital transformation has increased the amount of personal, financial and government information held online, creating new opportunities for cybercriminals.
PS Omollo urged government agencies to also improve public engagement on cybersecurity and explain cybercrime interventions in simple language.
He said members of the public have a right to understand the threats they face and the measures being taken to protect them.
The government is now seeking to combine stronger prevention, better investigations, effective prosecution, international cooperation and public awareness in tackling cybercrime.
For Mugonyi, the new reference guide represents an important step towards ensuring cybercrime cases are handled through a more coordinated and predictable process, from the initial report of an incident to investigation and prosecution.
