Kenya has in the recent past seen increased internet security threats which range from hacking, to stolen digital identities and even malicious take down of content. The cases have mostly affected business but individuals have also suffered from these incidents. Keen on tackling these increasing cases, the Communication Authority of Kenya created new rules in 2014 to tackle these issues. Among the measures included the setting up of a forensic laboratory to monitor imminent threats, thwart possible attacks besides working with the Judiciary to tackle such incidents. Currently the National Computer Incident Response Team handles cyber security incidents and the lab is set to bolster these efforts.
In 2015, Cyber security firm Serianu published the Kenya Cyber Security Report 2015 on the state of cybersecurity in Kenya. According to the report, 80 per cent of Kenyans connected to the Internet are vulnerable to cybercriminal attacks. The report further established that the annual cost of cybercrime to Kenyan companies is estimated to be Kshs 15 billion (USD146 Million). The public sector is the most affected losing approximately Kshs 5 billion per year followed by the financial services sector at Kshs 4 billion and manufacturing and industrials at Kshs 3 billion in third place. The telecommunications, media and technology and other sectors are estimated to lose about Kshs 2 billion and Kshs 1 billion respectively.
According to a report carried by Daily Nation, the government is planning to invest Kshs. 13 Billion in the next financial year to boost cybersecurity in Kenya. This is based off a report by the International Data Corporation, which sees the government increasing IT expenditure by 15% owing to a directive to to have ICT functions in state agencies and ministries streamlined under one authority in a bid to prevent cybercrime. IDC also expects expenditure in IT to grow to Kshs. 225 Billion with the communications and financial services leading in expenditure.
