Information and communication technology (ICT) practitioners have called for the training and retooling of experts in the sector to help tackle emerging cyber security threats.
This follows a sharp rise in the number of attacks, from Sh7.7 million in 2018 to 444 million in 2023, ranking Kenya among the top three targeted countries in Africa.
Speaking during a Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) conference in Kisumu, the practitioners underscored the need to train more ICT professionals, especially in cyber security, to build the country’s capacity to deal with cybercrime.
Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) Kenya Chapter President Mercy Omolo said the lack of a skilled workforce amidst emerging attacks was the biggest challenge to the GRC, with various organisations and state agencies grappling with cyber security threats.
Kenya, she said, has a shortage of ICT experts and specialists in emerging areas of cyber security, exposing the country’s systems to attacks.
She called for investment in the training and retooling of ICT professionals to adapt to emerging threats and keep the systems secure.
ISACA, which is a technology association of professionals, has rolled out programmes to upskill and issue certifications to its over 1,700 members to enhance the country’s capacity to deal with cybercrime.
Speaking on the same occasion, National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee Head of Cyber Security Dr. David Njoga said digitization and onboarding government services online have left a digital footprint, attracting cybercriminals.
This, he added, has exposed government agencies and even the private sector to cyberattacks, adding that the government has put in place measures to tame the tide.
Among the measures, he said, is the development of regulations to operationalise the Computer Misuse and Cyber Crimes Act (2019).
This, he added, will enhance compliance with the law and guarantee a stable digital economy for the benefit of the country.
Deputy Auditor General Isack Kamau said adoption of new technology in government and the private sector was inevitable, calling for the adoption of tools to guarantee effective governance, risk, and compliance.
Technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI), he said, was welcome to enhance efficiency in service delivery.
“Adoption of AI is inevitable, but there is a need for us to adopt it within the established professional standards and code of ethics,” he said.
The three-day conference organised by the ISACA Kenya Chapter brought together ICT professionals from the government and private sectors.
By Chris Mahandara
