- Kenya is moving to strengthen its national cybersecurity response as attacks on digital systems continue to rise.
- The new board faces pressure to boost the capacity of the National Cybersecurity Operations Centre.
- Distributed Denial of Service attacks rose by 114.3 per cent to 72.16 million in the year to June 2026.
The government has tasked the newly inaugurated National Cybersecurity Agency Board with strengthening the protection of Kenya’s digital infrastructure amid a sharp rise in cyberattacks targeting the country.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the board must prioritise building the capacity of the National Cybersecurity Operations Centre to improve the detection, analysis and coordination of responses to cyber threats.
He said the country’s growing reliance on digital platforms had made cybersecurity a critical national security concern, warning that attacks on digital systems could undermine public safety, economic activities and national sovereignty.
“Cybersecurity is no longer merely an ICT concern. It is a matter of national security, economic security, public safety and national sovereignty,” Murkomen said.
The CS spoke on Monday, November 2, 2026, at Harambee House in Nairobi during the inauguration of the National Cybersecurity Agency Board, chaired by Dr Martin Koyabe.
The urgency of the agency’s mandate is underscored by statistics from the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), which show that Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks increased by 114.3 per cent to reach 72.16 million in the year to June 2026.
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DDoS attacks typically overwhelm targeted digital systems with excessive internet traffic, potentially disrupting access to online services and critical infrastructure.
Murkomen said the board should move swiftly to strengthen the country’s capacity to anticipate and respond to emerging cyber threats as the government expands digital service delivery.
Established under Legal Notice No. 89 of 2026, the National Cybersecurity Agency is an autonomous regulatory and technical institution mandated to coordinate cybersecurity matters nationally.
Its establishment comes as government institutions, businesses and citizens increasingly depend on digital platforms for communication, financial transactions and access to essential services.
Murkomen pledged government support to the board as it begins implementing its mandate, urging members to prioritise the protection of the country’s cyberspace.
The agency is expected to play a central role in coordinating national efforts to address cyber threats and strengthen the resilience of Kenya’s digital infrastructure.
By Jeff Kirui
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