Kenya Losing Ksh.4 Billion Annually to Cybercrime, PS Omollo Warns
He cited a recent incident in which a cyberattack crippled key government services for nearly half a day, affecting multiple ministries
Kenya is losing at least Ksh.4 billion every year to cybercrime, Interior Principal Secretary Dr. Raymond Omollo has revealed, calling for stronger, coordinated efforts to counter rising digital threats
Speaking at the Third African Forum on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence in Nairobi, Dr. Omollo noted that cyberattacks are increasingly disrupting government operations and causing major financial losses
He cited a recent incident in which a cyberattack crippled key government services for nearly half a day, affecting multiple ministries
“Last week, for almost half a day, we experienced denial of services across various ministries. Two years ago, a similar attack affected the eCitizen portal for nearly 48 hours,” he said
The forum, jointly organized by the European Union and the Ministry of Interior, brought together representatives from over 35 countries, including law enforcement officers, ministers, private-sector experts, academics, and civil society leaders
Dr. Omollo highlighted the government’s continued investment in cybersecurity capacity, noting that beyond service denial, cybercrime also leads to fraud and significant financial losses
Kenya is working toward aligning with international standards by seeking accession to both the African Union’s Malabo Convention and the Budapest Convention on cybercrime
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“As a country, we recognize how technology has made accessing public services easier, but there are also elements who use it to commit crime,” Omollo said. “This forum is a perfect opportunity to strategize on mitigating these risks”
A major focus of the event was capacity building, with judges, magistrates, prosecutors and investigators receiving training on handling electronic evidence and interpreting cybercrime laws to ensure effective investigations and prosecutions
The Council of Europe, which has supported more than 2,500 global capacity-building initiatives over the past 14 years, reaffirmed its commitment to assisting African nations in strengthening cybercrime legislation and enforcement
Kenya’s leadership in advancing cybercrime prevention was cited as a key factor in its selection as host of the forum, which provided a platform for African countries to share experiences and develop collaborative strategies for safeguarding the continent’s digital space
Writer : Mweru Mbugua
