Kabogo warns of AI-powered fraud, phishing as Kenya strengthens cybersecurity
Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has warned that artificial intelligence is creating new cybersecurity risks, including fraud, phishing attacks and identity impersonation, as Kenya accelerates its digital transformation. Kabogo said the country must match technological innovation with stronger security measures to protect citizens, businesses,…
Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy William Kabogo has cautioned that artificial intelligence is generating fresh cybersecurity threats, such as fraud, phishing attacks and identity fraud. Speaking at the Safaricom Cyber Security Summit 2026 in Nairobi on October 14, 2026, Kabogo stated that while AI can boost public service delivery, business efficiency and cyber threat detection, it also presents risks that need responsible management.
At the summit, themed "Harnessing AI, Strengthening Security," Kabogo underlined the need for strong governance, accountability, human oversight and robust data protection frameworks to guide responsible AI adoption. The Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy remains committed to strengthening Kenya's cybersecurity ecosystem through policy measures, implementation of the national cybersecurity strategy and cooperation with industry stakeholders.
Kabogo emphasized the importance of coordinated action involving government, the private sector, regulators, academia and citizens in anticipating threats and enhancing resilience. Child online safety was also highlighted as a central concern, with cyberbullying, online exploitation and AI-generated harmful content among the threats requiring attention.
Kabogo stressed that Kenya's digital progress should be coupled with measures to safeguard children and bolster trust in online services. The summit aimed to explore the interplay between cybersecurity, business resilience and responsible technology adoption, with discussions intended to assist organizations in addressing emerging risks.
As Kenya intensifies its digital transformation and leverages AI, the challenge lies in transforming policy commitments into practical safeguards, bolstering institutional capacity and providing effective protection for users. Kabogo reiterated that collaboration between government and industry would remain crucial in ensuring Kenya's digital future is secure, inclusive and trustworthy.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
