Communications Authority (CA) is targeting to increase partnerships with various youth organizations in a bid to make the country’s information and technology systems resilient against cyber attacks.
According to CA Cyber Security Director Dr Vincent Ngundi more partnerships will help the country build a pool of skilled manpower to help deal with rising online threats which been due to increased digitalization of services by both public and private sector.
Annually, CA has put a target to train 2000 cyber security experts annually through universities and the Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (TVETS).
“Last year we did over 4000, a year before an equal number and we have done it in the last five years. I can confidently say that over the past five years we have trained over 20,000 youths through the bootcamps. But that is just the beginning,” said Ngundi.
Data from CA indicates that in third quarter of the year to March 2025, cyber threats rose by 202pc to 2.5 billion from 841 million in the previous quarter as advisories increase by 14pc to 13 million from 11.6 million.
Since 2022, the government has increase online services, from 500 to the current 22,000 a factor which has also played to the rise in cyber threats.
“We attribute the rise in attacks to change in technology. Then again we attribute this rise to the slow nature of how systems are adapting. For instance, if you talk about artificial intelligence, some people will be using this to do other funny business but then would the law act fast. You may find that there lapses,” added Keniz Agira, Chairman Kenya Cyber Security and Forensics Association (KCSFA).
During the 2025 Cyber security Youth Forum, young people were urged to desist from engaging in illegal activities which may compromise their safety online.
