Interior and National Government Coordination Cabinet Secretary (CS), Dr. Fred Matiang`i, has called on all players in the cyber space to work together in securing the cyber space.
Dr. Matiang`i said most of the private and government businesses are now being transacted on the cyber space which predisposes these businesses to cycle crime, hence the need to work together in securing this space.
He said the increase in technology and growth of the same has soared from 1.9trillion 10 years ago to over 6.8trillion in 2022, indicating an urgent need to protect this space.
“The number of different online business transactions including the growth in mobile subscribers and money banking in the country has increased tremendously which represents a very phenomenal growth, thus the need to guard the digital space to protect the millions who are using the cyber space,” Matiang`i said.
The CS was speaking in Naivasha, Wednesday, when he officially opened the Cyber Security Strategy 2022 – 2026 workshop, which he said will give impetus that will help the government strengthen the cyber security laws.
Dr. Matiang`i said with the increase in cyber activities, digital crime has also increased and become more sophisticated, creating a need to have a cyber-security system, that is also hi-tech and foolproof in order to protect all these data.
He also said we are in an era where countries and organizations are investing in technology aimed at raiding the cyber space of other countries and organizations and the rules and regulations that will be formulated through the guidelines provided by the cyber security strategy will go a long way in helping to offer data protection and preserve the integrity of Kenya.
The Cabinet Secretary said cyber space working environment, will also help in reducing disappearance of documents such as files.
“Unfortunately on the digital platform, the same document can be lost permanently if due diligence and care is not put into consideration, hence the need for rules and regulations that will help secure this data,” he noted.
He further observed that the Huduma Namba program that was challenged in court was actually meant to protect individual data by putting it in a central place instead of it being scattered all over the place which make such data unsecure.
On the forthcoming General Elections, Dr. Matiang`i warned those bent on causing tension in the country by using insulting language, especially on the social media and political campaigns that the government will deal with them firmly.
The Inspector General of Police, Hilary Mutyambai, said the Cyber Security strategy would not have come at a better time regretting that cybercrime had become more sophisticated and global. He said his officers are being trained to handle this emerging phenomenon.
The function was also attended by Information, Communications Technology (ICT) Director, Heston Malweyi, who read ICT Principal Secretary, Jerome Ochieng` s speech. Communications Authority (CA), Director General, Ezra Chiloba participated virtually.
By Mabel Keya – Shikuku
