Government officials, regulators, and top business leaders gathered in Nairobi today to forge a unified strategy against an escalating wave of cybercrime, as new data reveals Kenya detected over 2.5 billion cyber threat events in the first quarter of 2025 alone.
The urgent call for collaboration came during the Safaricom Cybersecurity Summit 2025, themed “Powering Progress. Securing Growth.”
The summit was convened at a critical time. According to the National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CC), the 2.5 billion threats mark a significant increase from the previous quarter. These attacks, including sophisticated phishing scams, ransomware, and large-scale system disruptions, are increasingly targeting the country’s most critical sectors, including finance, healthcare, energy, and government services.
Speaking at the forum, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa stressed that no single organization could win the fight alone.
“Cybercrime is a challenge that no single institution can solve alone,” Ndegwa said. “As more Kenyans embrace digital tools, the responsibility to keep them safe becomes greater. This summit provides a platform for government, private sector, and civil society to collaborate.”
Ndegwa stated that the primary goal is to ensure Kenya’s rapid digital growth is anchored on trust and resilience.
The forum, held at the Mövenpick Hotel, moved beyond high-level discussions to include expert panel sessions, hands-on training, and interactive showcases of security tools. The sessions were designed to give IT professionals and business leaders practical insights into safeguarding their systems.
The event, which builds on last year’s edition, also coincides with Safaricom’s 25th anniversary. The company, which has grown from 17,000 subscribers in 2000 to over 60 million across Kenya and Ethiopia, highlighted its own investments in data protection, including its ISO 27701 certification for responsible information management.
Organizers said the Safaricom Cybersecurity Summit aims to position Kenya as a regional leader in addressing digital security challenges through continued collaboration, innovation, and public awareness.
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