Kenya plans to enhance partnerships with the private sector to boost the security of the digital economy by curbing cyber crime, a senior government official said on Friday.
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Joe Mucheru, Cabinet Secretary at the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and Youth Affairs, said this at the launching of the TAI Security Operations Centre in Nairobi.
Mucheru said that the private sector had the expertise to develop innovations that could advance the country’s cyber security.
“The government is committed to prioritise collaborations on cyber security with the private sector to boost the growth of the e-commerce sector as well as the adoption of e-government services,” Mucheru said.
The financial and health sectors remain vulnerable to cyber-attacks because of the sensitive personal data that they deal with, he said.
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Mucheru said Kenya had enacted a number of laws to enhance the penalties for online crimes.
The country is also working with international institutions to bridge the cyber security skills gap, he said.
High internet penetration makes cyber security a national priority due to the high dependence on digital platforms to deliver private and public services, Mucheru said.
While large corporations are able to deal with cyber attacks, small firms continue to face safety challenges due to limited expertise, he said.
Katherine Getao, CEO of ICT Authority of Kenya, said the COVID-19 pandemic had increased the country’s vulnerability to cyber crimes.
“We have seen new entrants into the internet space as more people work online due to the social distance guidelines needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” she said.
The evolving nature of cyber-crimes means that Kenya and even developed countries are not adequately prepared to eliminate cyber threats, Getao said.