Chinese hackers carried out a multi-year cyber espionage campaign against Kenya’s government, targeting key ministries and state institutions, according to cybersecurity experts and intelligence sources. The intrusions, traced back to late 2019, focused on the finance ministry, the president’s office, and Kenya’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), among others. Sources indicate that the attacks were likely aimed at obtaining information on Kenya’s mounting debt to Beijing, as the East African nation became a central link in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Chinese officials have denied involvement, calling the allegations baseless.
The hacking operations, reportedly conducted by a group known in cybersecurity circles as BackdoorDiplomacy, exploited spearphishing techniques to infiltrate government networks. Documents reviewed by Reuters revealed that sensitive data from the foreign and finance ministries were accessed, with the NIS email server compromised in mid-2021. The attacks continued intermittently through early 2023, coinciding with a period when Kenya sought temporary debt relief from China amid the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts say the campaign highlights the strategic role cyber espionage can play in safeguarding economic interests, particularly as Kenya grapples with loans exceeding $9 billion used for infrastructure projects including railways, ports, and highways.
Reactions within Kenya underline the growing concern over digital vulnerabilities. The presidential office acknowledged frequent infiltration attempts from foreign actors but asserted that none had succeeded. Regional cybersecurity experts warn that persistent intrusions by state-linked groups could undermine trust in Kenya’s digital infrastructure and complicate foreign relations. Looking ahead, officials may accelerate cybersecurity upgrades and implement stricter controls to protect sensitive government and financial data, ensuring that Kenya remains resilient against future cyber threats in a high-stakes global environment.