Kenya, United Kingdom Reaffirm Commitment to Cybersecurity Cooperation

The Principal Secretary for the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, CBS, and the Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, Mr. Stephen Isaboke, EBS, today received a delegation from the British High Commission led by the Deputy British High Commissioner, Dr. Ed Barnett, at the Ministry Headquarters.

The British delegation also comprised Mr. Colin Sykes, Head of Science, Innovation and Technology, and Ms. Clarian Makungu, Africa Cyber Project Manager. The meeting formed part of ongoing engagements under the UK-Kenya Cyber Partnership and provided an opportunity for both sides to review progress and chart the way forward on cybersecurity cooperation.

Discussions centred on strengthening cybersecurity governance frameworks, enhancing technical and institutional capacity, and improving mechanisms for cyber threat intelligence sharing between the two countries. The two delegations also discussed the role of artificial intelligence in the cybersecurity landscape, including its application in countering misinformation and disinformation.

A significant part of the discussion focused on Kenya's ongoing efforts to establish a dedicated cybersecurity agency. The British delegation indicated the United Kingdom's readiness to share institutional experience and lessons learned, while affirming that Kenya's cybersecurity framework should be developed in a manner consistent with the country's national priorities and context.

The two sides further explored avenues for long-term programme cooperation, with emphasis on sustainable capacity building and the strengthening of Kenya's capability to detect, prevent and respond to cyber threats, including during sensitive periods such as electoral cycles.

The Principal Secretaries were accompanied by the Ag. Secretary for Digital Government and Data Governance, Mr. Bernard Rotich; the Director for Partnerships, Research and Emerging Technologies, Mr. John Kiria; and other senior officers of the Ministry.

The engagement reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between Kenya and the United Kingdom on cybersecurity matters and the shared commitment of both Governments to building a secure, resilient and inclusive digital future. It is expected that the partnership will continue to be strengthened through further technical engagement, including collaboration with the United Kingdom's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), as Kenya continues to develop its cybersecurity institutions.

The Ministry reiterates its commitment to working with development partners to translate strategic engagements of this nature into concrete programmes that deliver tangible benefits to Kenyan citizens and businesses.