- Kenya and the United Kingdom are seeking deeper cybersecurity cooperation, with a focus on governance, technical capacity and cyberthreat intelligence sharing.
- The partnership will also explore the use of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity and strengthen Kenya’s ability to detect, prevent and respond to cyberthreats, including during election periods.
- The United Kingdom has offered to support Kenya as it establishes a national cybersecurity agency by sharing expertise and best practices from its own cybersecurity framework.
Kenya and the United Kingdom are seeking to deepen cybersecurity cooperation, with discussions this week focusing on governance, technical capacity, cyberthreat intelligence sharing and the use of artificial intelligence.
The talks took place during a British delegation’s visit to Kenya’s Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy on Wednesday, August 19. The Kenyan ICT ministry said the meeting was part of the UK-Kenya cybersecurity partnership and gave both sides an opportunity to review progress and identify priorities for future cooperation.
Discussions focused on strengthening cybersecurity governance, developing technical and institutional capacity, and improving cyberthreat intelligence sharing. The two sides also discussed the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen cybersecurity, including efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation.
The two countries also aim to deepen the partnership by strengthening Kenya’s capacity to detect, prevent and respond to cyberthreats. The cooperation will place particular emphasis on sensitive periods, including election cycles, as well as the exchange of expertise and best practices.
UK Experience to Support Kenya’s Cybersecurity Ambitions
The closer cooperation comes as Kenya strengthens its national cybersecurity framework. The country is currently moving to establish a national agency responsible for coordinating cybersecurity efforts. Parliament approved its creation in June. The United Kingdom has offered to share its expertise and best practices to help Kenya establish the new agency.
The United Kingdom is among the countries in the highest tier of the International Telecommunication Union’s Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, classified as a “role-modelling” country. It received the maximum score across all five pillars assessed by the index. Kenya is also in that category but still has room for improvement, particularly in its legal and technical measures.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
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