Murkomen inaugurates board to tighten Kenya’s cybersecurity

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo pose for a photo with National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) Board/MINAKenya has stepped up efforts to strengthen its cybersecurity architecture following the inauguration of the National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) Board.

The move is aimed at protecting critical digital infrastructure and improving the country’s capacity to respond to emerging cyber threats.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen presided over the inauguration of the new board, chaired by Martin Koyabe, at Harambee House in Nairobi.

The establishment of the board marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to secure the country’s expanding digital infrastructure amid growing dependence on online platforms for public services and economic activities.

Murkomen said Kenya’s digital transformation had improved access to government services, enhanced efficiency and opened up new economic opportunities, but warned that the growing reliance on technology had also exposed the country to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

“We have made great progress in digital transformation, which has expanded access to services, improved efficiency, and created new economic opportunities for Kenyans,” Murkomen said.

“Our growing dependence on digital infrastructure, however, exposes us to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.”

He said the government must prioritise the protection of digital systems to safeguard the country’s transformation agenda and ensure the security of sensitive information.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior PS Dr Raymond Omollo pose for a photo with National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) Board/MINA“We must, therefore, do all we can to secure the digital foundations upon which our national transformation agenda rests,” he added.

The CS said the country’s cybersecurity framework was anchored on protecting national interests and constitutional rights, with the government adopting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to address emerging threats.

Among the key responsibilities of the new board will be strengthening the capacity of the National Cybersecurity Operations Centre to detect, analyse and coordinate responses to cyber threats in real time.

The centre is expected to play a critical role in monitoring cybersecurity incidents, facilitating information sharing and coordinating responses to attacks targeting government systems and other critical infrastructure.

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Interior PS Raymond Omollo during the inauguration of the National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) Board /MINAInterior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the agency would be central to securing the government’s expanding digital infrastructure under the Digital Superhighway programme.

Omollo noted that the digitisation of government services and the expansion of online platforms had increased the need for robust cybersecurity systems to protect public institutions and citizens.

“With the Digital Superhighway programme driving the digitisation of government services and expanding access to online platforms, the National Cyber Security Agency is central to ensuring that these systems are secure, reliable and protected against cyber attacks,” Omollo said.

Interior PS Raymond Omollo during the inauguration of the Cyber Security Agency Board /MINAHe added that safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining public confidence in digital services would remain critical as the government expands the delivery of services through technology.

The inauguration comes as Kenya continues to digitise public services, increasing the importance of protecting government databases, financial systems and other essential digital infrastructure from cybercrime, data breaches and other malicious attacks.

The new board is expected to provide strategic oversight and strengthen coordination among government agencies and other stakeholders involved in the country’s cybersecurity response.