MOMBASA, Kenya—The government has intensified efforts to strengthen cybersecurity, digital governance, and trust as Kenya accelerates its transition into a fully digitised economy amid rising threats targeting critical systems.
Speaking in Mombasa, Information and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo said the country’s digital transformation has entered a new phase defined by accountability, resilience, and trust.
“The digital economy is no longer imagined. It is established. What is now at stake is not consensus but governance, not innovation alone but accountability,” he said at a digital economy convention.
Kenya has rapidly expanded its digital public infrastructure, driven by platforms such as eCitizen and growing ICT connectivity. Government data shows fibre optic coverage has grown from about 8,900 kilometres in 2022 to roughly 30,000 kilometres, with a long-term target of 100,000 kilometres.
Over the same period, services offered through eCitizen have increased from fewer than 400 to more than 23,000, reflecting the scale of the country’s digital shift.
Kabogo also cited digital inclusion efforts, including training nearly 1.9 million young people in digital skills and rolling out hundreds of digital hubs to expand access to online services.
However, the rapid expansion has been accompanied by a sharp rise in cyber risks. The government recorded 4.56 billion cyber events in a single quarter, representing a 441 percent increase.
“These events land on real infrastructure—on our banks, hospitals, revenue platforms, and mobile money systems handling over 100 million transactions daily,” Kabogo said, warning that disruptions could erode public confidence and economic stability.
In response, the government is reviewing key laws, including the Kenya Information and Communications Act, and strengthening enforcement of the Data Protection Act through the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
The regulator has already issued compensation orders in cases involving telecom firms, digital lenders, and private platforms.
New policy frameworks are also in development, including a national cloud policy and an artificial intelligence strategy aimed at reinforcing data sovereignty and regulating emerging technologies.
“Innovations will not be slow, but they will not be ungoverned,” Kabogo said, underscoring the need for responsible AI within strong regulatory frameworks.
He outlined three priorities: strengthening digital governance, building cybersecurity and data protection capacity, and deepening collaboration between government and industry.
At the same forum, Bonface Asiligwa said organisations are shifting focus from compliance to resilience in response to evolving threats.
“The conversation is moving from compliance to resilience, control to adaptability, and technology to trust,” he said during the ISACA Kenya Annual Conference 2026.
Asiligwa noted that digital trust is increasingly central to institutional credibility and leadership, even as cybersecurity professionals face rapidly evolving threats and must make decisions under pressure and often with incomplete information.
Kenya is positioning itself as a regional leader in digital transformation, with forums such as the Connected Africa Summit expected to shape continental discussions on integration, governance, and trust.
Officials say the next phase of the country’s digital journey will depend less on the pace of expansion and more on how securely and responsibly digital systems are managed.
