- Safaricom is calling for stronger safeguards as artificial intelligence reshapes the cybersecurity landscape.
- Kenya’s rising cyber threat activity is intensifying pressure on organisations to strengthen digital protection.
- Small businesses are facing growing calls to prioritise security as they expand their use of digital services.
Safaricom has called for stronger cybersecurity safeguards as the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) exposes businesses and digital service users to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Speaking during the fourth Safaricom Cybersecurity Summit in Nairobi on Wednesday, Safaricom Group Chief Executive Officer Peter Ndegwa said organisations must integrate security into technology development from the outset to ensure responsible AI adoption.
“AI is expanding what is possible for businesses and society, but that opportunity must be built on trust,” Ndegwa said.
He emphasised that cybersecurity should no longer be treated as an additional layer of protection introduced after a digital service has been developed, but as a fundamental part of technology design and deployment.
“It must be embedded from the start and strengthened through shared standards, responsible innovation and collaboration across sectors,” he said.
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Held under the theme “Harnessing AI, Strengthening Security,” the summit brought together stakeholders from Kenya’s digital ecosystem to examine how AI is reshaping cybersecurity and the measures needed to protect organisations and consumers.
Discussions focused on the dual role of AI in cybersecurity, with the technology offering new capabilities for detecting and responding to threats while also enabling cybercriminals to develop more sophisticated attacks.
These include deepfakes, AI-generated impersonation, automated scams and ransomware attacks, which can undermine trust in digital platforms and expose businesses to financial and operational losses.
The summit comes amid a rise in cyber threat activity in Kenya. Data from the Communications Authority of Kenya’s National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team-Coordination Centre showed that 11.12 billion cyber threat events were detected in the last financial year, representing a 29 per cent increase from 8.62 billion in the previous year.
Participants examined how organisations can deploy AI-powered threat detection tools, improve incident response capabilities and strengthen preparedness against ransomware attacks.
The discussions also highlighted the need for tested incident response procedures, clear accountability structures and a security-aware workforce capable of identifying suspicious activity and verifying high-risk requests.
Beyond large organisations, Safaricom called for greater access to cybersecurity solutions for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which it said account for approximately 70 per cent of Kenya’s gross domestic product.
The company noted that protecting these businesses’ operations, customer information and digital transactions was becoming increasingly important as more enterprises embrace technology to manage operations and reach customers.
The centre’s name looks off in the source. It is usually styled the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CC), so please confirm it.
By Obegi Malack
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