Sharp Rise in Cybercrime Losses: Sh10.71 Billion in 2023

Kenya suffered massive financial losses from cybercrime in 2023, with the Communications Authority (CA) reporting that the country lost Sh10.71 billion (approximately US$83 million) during the year. The Star According to CA Director General David Mugonyi, businesses and government agencies were the hardest hit, spending on average US$4.35 million (about Sh561 million) each to recover from cyberattacks. The Star
Data from the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (KE‑CIRT/CC) shows that from April to June 2024 alone, 1.1 billion cyber threats were detected targeting Kenyan digital assets. The Star Mugonyi pointed out that the most affected sectors include financial services, government, fintech, hospitality, education, telecommunications, and manufacturing. The Star While external cyberattacks are a major concern, CA also flagged insider threats and online fraud as leading contributors to the losses. The Star
In response to the alarming trends, the Ministry of ICT and the CA are pushing to consolidate fragmented cybersecurity efforts across various government agencies. The Star Yunis Omar, the Ministry’s cybersecurity director, said that semi-autonomous government agencies currently run their own small cyber units, which weakens the national security posture. The Star Under the reform plan, there will be an amendment to the National ICT Policy and updates to Kenya’s National Cybersecurity Strategy to create a more unified, whole‑of‑government approach. The Star
Cybersecurity experts and businesses have welcomed the proposed reforms, though they stress that more must be done. The scale of loss underscores deep vulnerabilities in Kenya’s digital infrastructure, and many warn that unless threat intelligence, legal frameworks, and technical capacity are significantly strengthened, the country remains exposed to both local and transnational cyber dangers. As Kenya accelerates its digital economy ambitions, the challenge will be balancing growth and innovation with robust security.