East African countries will, in the course of this year, form a partnership to fight cybercrimes in the region. This was disclosed Tuesday during the Internet Governance Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.
Kenya’ Information and Communications PS, Dr Bitange Ndemo said: “We need to come up with a universal platform to tackle cyber security. As East Africans, let’s work as a team in dealing with cyber threats at national and regional levels.”
The latest concerns ensued following reports issued by government officials from the countries in the region that disclosed East Africa as potential risk area for online criminal activities, which may result to financial, drug and terrorism crime.
Governments, industries and civil society stakeholders from the region have since taken measures to curb the vice.
In Kenya, the National Cyber Security Steering Committee under the country’s communications regulator, the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK), has been formed to counter the vice.
Ndemo said that Cyber Security Management Task force led by Kenya will come up with ways of dealing with internet-related crimes in East African countries, which comprise Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.
The body has been given powers to address the problem by having Security law /regulation and policy that will be strictly followed, according to Ndemo, in sealing possible loopholes.
Cybercrimes pose a threat to the country’s social and economic progress.
Internet Society of Rwanda President Chris Mulola noted, “A research by Deloitte and Touche company on cybercrimes estimates at US$245 million cost of Cyber crime threats to financial institutions in East Africa.”
He urged the East African Communications Organizations (EACO) Cyber Security Task Force to be vigilant in monitoring cyber crimes and report all the cases.
The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a multi-stakeholder in which experts from specific countries discuss on issues of Internet governance. It was founded by United Nations Secretary-General in July 2006.
