The government is set to begin the formation of specialised centers aimed at enhancing the nation's resilience against cyber threats in a bid to bolster national cybersecurity.
This strategic initiative comes in the aftermath of a spate of cyber incidents last year that targeted crucial government and financial systems, marking a significant escalation in cyber warfare against Kenya.
The National Assembly's recent endorsement of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrime (Critical Information Infrastructure and Cybercrime Management) Regulations, 2024, paves the way for the creation of Cybersecurity Operations Centers.
These hubs are tasked with the collection, analysis, and aggregation of data to thwart hacking attempts on government institutions.
The Cybersecurity Operations Centres will be endowed with the capabilities for real-time monitoring, analysis, log collection, and aggregation, featuring an alert system designed to notify government bodies about potential cyber threats.
Moreover, these centres will be staffed with cybersecurity experts tasked with the prevention, detection, analysis, and response to cyber threats.
The framework for these operations centres encompasses the National Cybersecurity Operations Centre, Sector Cybersecurity Operations Centres, and Critical Information Infrastructure Cybersecurity Operations Centres.
These entities will operate under the aegis of the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee, a collective comprising senior officials from various governmental bodies.
The Cybersecurity Operations Centers are equipped with a comprehensive toolkit for cyber defense, including real-time event monitoring, threat intelligence platforms, and incident response capabilities.
The National Cybersecurity Operations Center will serve as the central node for monitoring and responding to cyber threats across the country, facilitating cooperation and information sharing among the sector-specific centers.
The approval by lawmakers is a critical step towards safeguarding Kenya's digital infrastructure, with President William Ruto responding to calls to act over the spree of hacking incidents.
Last year, Kenya grappled with a series of aggressive cyber attacks that not only defaced government websites but also disrupted the country's electricity grid system, calling for robust cybersecurity measures.
The attacks did not spare the digital financial ecosystem, causing significant disruptions to internet and mobile payment platforms, including the widely used M-PESA service.
The attacks in July 2023, had a profound impact on public service provision and exposed vulnerabilities within Kenya's rapidly digitalizing society.
The eCitizen platform, a cornerstone of the government's digital service provision, was among the services temporarily knocked offline.
The establishment of the Cybersecurity Operations Centers is viewed as a proactive measure to anticipate and neutralize potential cyber threats, ensuring the integrity of Kenya's critical information infrastructure.
