Kenya plans to establish a National Cybersecurity Agency to protect citizens’ data and secure government digital platforms, announced John Tanui, Principal Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy, on Tuesday.
The project, which has already been approved by the Cabinet, will be submitted to Parliament after consultations with the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Tanui said, stressing that cybersecurity is a global challenge that requires dedicated and well-adapted institutional frameworks.
This initiative follows a major cyberattack that recently crippled dozens of Kenyan government websites, leaving many public online services inaccessible.
The new agency aims to strengthen national coordination against cyber threats and to complement the work of existing institutions, particularly the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), which is responsible for safeguarding personal data.
Beyond security concerns, cybersecurity also represents a job creation opportunity for young people, especially amid a global shortage of digital skills, the Principal Secretary noted. He added that Kenya aspires to become a regional cybersecurity hub, particularly with the rapid growth of artificial intelligence.
The government has also reinforced cybersecurity capacities within public administration by reorganizing ICT functions across ministries, ensuring that each ICT directorate is now integrated into key decision-making structures, he explained.
