Kenya moves to strengthen cyber defences as attacks surge 114pc

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 2 — The government has directed a newly inaugurated cybersecurity agency to strengthen Kenya’s digital defences amid a sharp rise in cyberattacks targeting the country’s digital infrastructure.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the National Cybersecurity Agency must prioritise strengthening the National Cybersecurity Operations Centre to improve the country’s ability to detect, analyse and respond to cyber threats in real time.

Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya shows that Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks rose to 72.16 million in the year to June 2026, representing a 114.3 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

Speaking at Harambee House in Nairobi during the inauguration of the agency’s board, Murkomen said the growing threat required cybersecurity to be treated as a national security priority rather than solely an information and communications technology concern.

“Cybersecurity is no longer merely an ICT concern. It is a matter of national security, economic security, public safety and national sovereignty,” he said.

The CS challenged the board, chaired by Dr Martin Koyabe, to move with speed in strengthening the protection of critical infrastructure and building the technical capacity needed to safeguard the country’s cyberspace.

“I expect the Board to build the capacity of the National Cybersecurity Operations Centre to detect, analyse and coordinate responses to threats in real time,” Murkomen said.

The inauguration marks the establishment of a new institutional framework for coordinating Kenya’s response to cyber threats, as government services, businesses and other critical operations increasingly rely on digital systems.

Established under Legal Notice No. 89 of 2026, the National Cybersecurity Agency is an autonomous regulatory and technical body mandated to coordinate national cybersecurity matters.

Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo, who attended the inauguration, said the agency would strengthen the country’s cybersecurity architecture and enhance its ability to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging threats.

Murkomen pledged government support for the board as it takes up its mandate, wishing its members success in securing the country’s digital infrastructure.

​Bruhan Makong is a Senior News Reporter for Capital FM in Nairobi, covering diplomacy, foreign policy, national security, climate, and human rights across East Africa and the wider region.