Kenya recorded more than double online crime in 2022 compared to 2021.
Economic Survey 2023 released in May 2023 indicated that 700 million online crimes were reported in 2022 from 339.1 million in 2021.
The surge in cybercrime cases is attributed to the sophisticated and dynamic nature of cyber threats.
Cybersecurity advisories also increased from eight million to 13.7 million.
The survey further reveals that system vulnerabilities increased significantly to 452.4 million in 2022 from 58 million in the previous year.
Major cases of cybersecurity were reported during the Covid-19 pandemic as many people switched online.
Ever since, companies and individuals have embraced technology in daily activities; thus, increasing the risks of attacks.
In a bid to mitigate cyber security threats and a safer Kenyan cyberspace, the government 2018 established the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team – Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CC).
This multi-agency collaboration framework is responsible for the national coordination of cyber security as Kenya’s national point of contact on cyber security matters.
The National KE-CIRT/CC coordinates responses to cyber security matters at the national level in collaboration with relevant actors locally and internationally.
The key functions of the commission are the Implementation of national cybersecurity policies, laws, and regulations, cybersecurity awareness, and capacity building, early warning and technical advisories on cyber threats on a 24/7 basis, and Technical coordination and response to cyber incidents on a 24/7 basis in collaboration with various actors locally and internationally.
Other obligations include developing and implementing a National Public Key Infrastructure (NPKI), research and development in cybersecurity, and promoting and facilitating the efficient management of critical Internet resources.
However, National KE-CIRT/CC seem overburdened as cyber security cases continue to escalate in their tenure.
The survey suggested that organizations prioritize security patching and risk mitigation strategies.
The web application attacks declined from 7.0 in 2021 to 1 million in 2022 due to increased investment in web application security and greater awareness of potential threats.
