Here’s a dose of irony to end your Sunday. Kenya’s premier crime-fighting agency found itself the target of cybercriminals earlier this evening. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that both its Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts were temporarily compromised by hackers who used the platforms to promote cryptocurrency schemes.
Online users became aware of the incident when suspicious posts began appearing on the DCI’s social media accounts, promoting a blockchain project and offering cryptocurrency tokens in exchange for likes and retweets. The unauthorized activity prompted immediate concern from followers, quickly igniting discussions about the security of government digital assets.
“For some moments this evening, we experienced a cyber-attack on the DCI digital platforms (X and Facebook) but have since regained full control,” the DCI stated after resolving the breach. The agency swiftly deleted the fraudulent posts and restored legitimate control of their accounts.
The DCI hack now follows a pattern of high-profile digital breaches in the country. Recent targets have included the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and the Business Registry Service, suggesting a troubling trend in attacks against government institutions.
In response to the breach, the DCI has launched what they describe as a “scrupulous interrogation” into the criminal activity, vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. That said, it’s very concerning to the public that even law enforcement agencies are not safe from cyber threats.
Government agencies are increasingly relying on social media platforms for public communication, and if they cannot secure their own accounts, it brings into question whether we can fully trust any information they relay without verifying its authenticity.
Hopefully, how the DCI will handle the investigation will well serve as a case study for other government institutions facing similar threats.
