Kenya has stepped up efforts to protect its rapidly expanding digital economy from cybercrime following the launch of a shared cybersecurity platform designed to help government agencies, small businesses and large corporations secure their information systems at affordable costs.
The initiative, known as SecureKE, will provide Security Operations Centre (SOC) services through a partnership between Konza Technopolis Development Authority and local technology firm SecureKE, in a move aimed at reducing the financial and technical barriers that have prevented many organisations from investing in advanced cybersecurity infrastructure.
Principal Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy John Tanui said the initiative would strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to growing cyber threats as government services, businesses and essential public functions increasingly migrate to digital platforms.
Speaking during the launch, Mr Tanui acknowledged that Kenya had made considerable progress in expanding digital infrastructure but still faced significant gaps in cybersecurity preparedness, particularly in developing specialised human resources and protecting increasingly interconnected systems.
He said the country had made substantial investments in connectivity and digitisation, with the digital health platform registering more than 33.5 million users and eCitizen serving over 16 million users.
More than 500,000 Kenyans access government services digitally every day, reflecting the growing dependence on technology in the delivery of public services.
However, Mr Tanui cautioned that the expansion of digital services must be accompanied by stronger security systems capable of protecting sensitive information, preventing cyberattacks and maintaining public confidence in online platforms.
“Kenya has done quite a lot when it comes to digital infrastructure. We have done well in connectivity and digitisation, but there is still quite a lot that needs to be done, particularly in ensuring that we have the human resources to secure our country,” he said.
The SecureKE platform is expected to address one of the biggest obstacles facing smaller organisations the high cost of establishing and maintaining independent cybersecurity operations centres.
Under the arrangement, institutions will access cybersecurity protection as a service rather than investing heavily in their own infrastructure, specialised equipment and technical personnel.
Mr Tanui said the model would enable small and medium sized enterprises, savings and credit cooperative societies, government departments and other organisations to obtain cybersecurity services according to their financial capacity.
He disclosed that some smaller businesses could access the service for as little as Sh200,000 annually, making advanced security solutions more accessible to enterprises that would otherwise struggle to establish dedicated cybersecurity departments.
The PS said the government was also working with universities, technical training institutions and international technology companies, including Cisco and Huawei, to strengthen cybersecurity training and develop local expertise.
He cited collaboration with Expertise France as part of ongoing efforts to develop cybersecurity policies, strengthen regulatory frameworks and improve professional training.
The government is also establishing digital hubs across the country, which are expected to provide opportunities for young people and small businesses to acquire digital skills and access emerging technology services.
Mr Tanui said the initiative aligned with the Digital Master Plan 2022-2032, which identifies critical infrastructure required to support Kenya’s digital transformation.
The master plan estimates that approximately Sh500 billion will be required to develop the country’s digital infrastructure, including connectivity and the digitisation of government services.
He clarified that the government’s direct investment in the SecureKE service was minimal because the shared service model significantly reduces the need for individual institutions to establish expensive cybersecurity facilities.
The government intends to encourage public institutions to adopt the platform to strengthen protection of their systems and information.
Konza Technopolis chief executive John Paul Okwiri said the authority was targeting the onboarding of as many government agencies as possible within the current quarter.
He disclosed that the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy, working with the State Corporations Advisory Committee, was expected to communicate a directive encouraging government agencies to adopt the service.
Okwiri said Konza, which hosts the National Data Centre, complies with the Data Protection Act, 2019, and operates within the legal requirements governing the processing and protection of personal information.
He said the authority would work with government institutions and private sector partners to ensure the platform continuously adapts to emerging cyber threats.
Principal Secretary for Mining Harry Kimtai welcomed the initiative, saying the growing digitisation of government operations had made cybersecurity an essential component of national economic development.
Kimtai said the partnership demonstrated how government and private sector collaboration could accelerate technological innovation while reducing the financial burden on public institutions and businesses.
He challenged Kenyan innovators and young technology professionals to develop homegrown solutions instead of relying excessively on foreign expertise.
He said local innovators understood the country’s business environment and could develop solutions that responded more directly to challenges facing Kenyan institutions.
Kimtai also urged young people to pursue careers in information and communication technology, saying the country’s growing digital economy presented opportunities for innovation, employment and entrepreneurship.
SecureKE chief executive Naftali Nyambuto said the initiative was founded on the principle that cybersecurity should be accessible to every organisation, irrespective of its size or financial capacity.
Nyambuto, who described collaboration as an increasingly important driver of innovation in the age of artificial intelligence, said the traditional approach of requiring every institution to establish its own security infrastructure was financially restrictive.
He argued that the shared service model would eliminate the need for organisations to secure large capital expenditure budgets before accessing essential cybersecurity protection.
“Security is supposed to be universal for all organisations regardless of size. If an organisation cannot afford to establish its own security operations centre, it should not mean that it cannot be secure,” he said.
Nyambuto said the partnership with Konza would allow the platform to continuously monitor emerging threats, improve its capabilities and work with different organisations to strengthen the country’s overall cybersecurity preparedness.
He further observed that artificial intelligence was changing the technology landscape by making access to ideas and technical capabilities easier, increasing the importance of collaboration between innovators, institutions and businesses.
The launch also highlighted the importance of developing local technological solutions as Kenya seeks to reduce dependence on imported systems and external expertise.
With more government services, financial transactions and business operations moving online, cybersecurity has become an increasingly important concern for institutions handling sensitive personal, financial and commercial information.
The introduction of SecureKE therefore places renewed focus on the need to balance digital transformation with data protection, institutional accountability and investment in skilled personnel.
However, the success of the initiative will depend on the extent to which government agencies, private enterprises and smaller businesses adopt the platform, as well as its ability to demonstrate reliable protection against evolving cyber threats.
