TMCnet News

ICT Ministry Draws Strategies to Curb Cyber Crime
[June 12, 2014]

ICT Ministry Draws Strategies to Curb Cyber Crime


(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) THE Ministry of Information and Communiocations Technology (ICT) has pledged to address cybercrime through the launching of various policies and strategies that will enable the government to address the inherent gaps in information security.



Speaking at the launch of the Kenya Cyber Security 2014 report by the Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK), the Permanent Secretary for ICT, Joseph Tiampati, said that the use of ICT has come with inherent security threats.

"Cybercrimes such as financial fraud or deliberate damage of critical information infrastructure can have a devastating effect. Cases of terrorist attacks using cyberspace have also become a worrying trend," said Tiampati.


He added that the recent cases of terrorist attacks on Kenya were a wake-up call that, together with other forms of security, pointed to the need for focus on cyberspace security.

To address some of these inherent gaps in information security, Tiampati said that the government would soon launch the National Cyber Security Strategy.

"The strategy will provide the Government with a national-level plan to defend and secure its digital infrastructure," he said.

Meanwhile, another initiative is the establishment of the Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (KE-CIRT/CC) which will offer advice on cyber security matters nationally.

"The team will also coordinate response to cyber incidents in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The KE-CIRT/CC is also Kenya's national trusted cybercrime management point of contact," said Tiampati.

To secure online transactions and therefore grow e-commerce, the government had developed the Public Key infrastructure which will offer digital certificates to those transacting online.

"We also aim to enhance information security in government IT systems including e-Government services by utilizing the PKI system," he said.

Copyright CAJ News Agency. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]