The Kenyan government has developed measures to curb cybercrime, which include working on an integrated infrastructure approach to secure cables.
This is according to Ministry of ICT principal secretary Joseph Tiampati, who was speaking at the launch of the Kenya Cyber Security Report 2014, which said incidents of cybercrime in the country were similar to those in the United States (US), Brazil, China and South Korea.
Tiampati said the government would soon launch the National Cyber Security Strategy, which will provide a national-level plan to defend and secure Kenya’s digital infrastructure.
“Last year we rolled out the National Broadband Strategy in which we have endeavoured to tackle concerns around security of our cables, which are often vandalised or destroyed during road construction and other infrastructural developments,” he said.
Tiampati said while ICT has become a basic necessity, it has brought about inherent security threats.
“Cybercrimes such as financial fraud or deliberate damage of critical information infrastructure can have a devastating effect. Cases of terrorist attacks using cyberspace have also become a worrying trend. The recent cases of terrorist attacks on Kenya is a wakeup call that, together with other forms of security, points to the need for focus on cyberspace security,” he said.
Also on the cards is the establishment of the Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (KE-CIRT/CC), which will offer advice on cyber security matters nationally.
The team will also coordinate response to cybercrime incidents in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The KE-CIRT/CC will also be Kenya’s national cybercrime management point of contact.
“To secure online transactions and therefore grow e-commerce, the government has developed the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) which will offer digital certificates to those transacting online. We also aim to enhance information security in government IT systems including e-government services by utilising the PKI system,” said Tiampati.
These initiatives will soon be rolled out, with the ICT Authority and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) being lead implementers.
