The Kenyan government has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing national cybersecurity policies and defended the implementation of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, despite concerns from the public and industry players. According to the government, full enforcement of the law will help unlock more investment in Kenya’s digital economy.
Speaking at the Safaricom Cybersecurity Summit, ICT and Digital Economy Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui said the country has lost investment opportunities because of misuse of digital platforms.
“The benefit in this space is significant. We want to ensure that anyone doing genuine business is trusted. We have seen countries withdraw opportunities from our country because of the misuse of certain platforms,” said PS Tanui.
Government Investments in Digital Infrastructure
Tanui revealed that the government has invested over Ksh.40 billion in the digitization of services and other technology upgrades over the past decade. This investment supports the growing integration of technology into daily life, with the average Kenyan spending 4 hours and 13 minutes online each day.
However, this increased digital activity comes with higher risk. Data shows the country reported over 4.6 billion cyber threats, marking an 8% rise in attacks.
Call for Stronger Cyber Awareness
Cybersecurity experts say the rise in threats highlights the need for greater investment in digital protection and public education. Many attacks still succeed because users rely on weak passwords or fail to follow basic security practices.
Safaricom Chief Cybersecurity Officer Nicholas Mulila urged innovators to integrate security from the start.
“We want to keep on innovating, but we never think of security when we are innovating. I continue to call on all of us to be secure by design. Let us innovate fast, but remember someone else is always trying to deconstruct.”
Kenya’s Digital Economy Growing Faster Than the National Economy
Kenya’s digital economy is expanding at a rate 2.5 times faster than the overall economy. This growth is driven by innovation, improved connectivity, and increasing investments in digital infrastructure.
PS Tanui highlighted the Digital Master Plan (2022–2032), which outlines a Ksh.500 billion investment requirement to support Kenya’s long-term digital transformation.
“The government has invested close to Ksh.40 billion in digital infrastructure over several years. Looking ahead, the Digital Master Plan requires Ksh.500 billion to realize Kenya’s digital future,” he said.
Rising Digital Services Exports
Kenya’s reputation as the Silicon Savanna continues to grow. Digital services exports are approaching Ksh.1 billion annually, demonstrating the country’s potential in the global tech market.
Tanui noted that many Kenyan tech enterprises are already exporting digital solutions to multiple countries. In addition, Kenyan professionals are working remotely for global companies in roles such as ICT support and software development.
“These earnings represent digital services exports and show how Kenyans are tapping into global opportunities,” said Eng. Tanui.
