Kenya marked Safer Internet Day 2025 with alarming revelations about the state of cybersecurity in the nation. At the Sarova Panafric Hotel in Nairobi today, officials disclosed that 3.5 billion cyber threats targeted Kenya’s cyberspace in the last financial year alone, with 1.5 billion of these attacks occurring in just the past six months.
The event, themed “Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online” brought together key figures from Kenya’s digital space, including Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo and Communications Authority Director General David Mugonyi.
“The Internet is the most revolutionary human invention of all time, but it is not immune to the frailties of the human condition,” Mugonyi said. While Kenya has earned recognition as a Tier One country in the Global Cyber Security Index by the International Telecommunications Union, the human element remains the weakest link in cybersecurity.
The government outlined several initiatives to protect its citizens, including the ambitious Digital Superhighway project, which aims to lay 100,000 km of fiber optic cables across all 47 counties. Additionally, 1,450 digital hubs are being established to provide internet access for commercial and social purposes.
The Communications Authority of Kenya revealed its ongoing efforts to combat online threats through the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team. To date, they’ve trained over 1,000 participants since 2019 on protecting children online, working in partnership with the African Advanced Level Telecommunications Institute.
Cabinet Secretary Kabogo brought to light recent legislative measures, including updates to the Children Act (2022) and the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, designed to address online abuse and exploitation.
The government has also implemented the National Cybersecurity Strategy (2022-2027) and the Kenya National Digital Master Plan (2022-2032) to guide the country’s digital transformation.
Officials expressed particular concern about the rising sophistication of online scams, especially with the emergence of AI technologies. “Generative AI enables fraudsters to create more credible-looking content, while machine learning helps them develop adaptive malware,” Mugonyi warned.
He also emphasized that while automated systems can help improve cybersecurity responses, human vigilance still remains irreplaceable.
The Safer Internet Day event concluded with a call for stronger collaboration between government agencies, service providers, and the public to create a safer digital environment for all Kenyans, with a special focus on protecting children and vulnerable populations in the increasingly connected nation.
