Across Kenya's digital-first economy, the use of technology by individuals and enterprises is on the rise. From farmers in rural counties paying for fertilizer supplies via mobile wallets to businesses and entities accessing e-government services via cloud, the shift to digital space is the in-thing.

With rising uptake of digital services, however, the journey is marked by new avenues for cyber risks with recent statistics showing that Kenya reported 842 million cyber threats between July and September 2025.

"Cybercrime is a challenge that no single institution can solve alone.  As more Kenyans embrace digital tools, the responsibility to keep them safe becomes greater," noted Dr. Peter Ndegwa, Safaricom PLC CEO during the Safaricom Cybersecurity Summit 2025 held under the theme: Powering Progress. Securing Growth.

The forum offered industry leaders, IT professionals and entrepreneurs practical insights into keeping their systems safe while also highlighting the importance of inclusion, collaboration and accessibility in securing digital assets.

According to Information, Communications and Digital Economy PS Eng. John Tanui, cyberattacks continue to target different players across the economy, including banks, hospitals, SMEs, schools and personal devices and they manifest through phishing to data breaches to network disruptions and identity theft.

"Digital transformation must go hand in hand with cybersecurity: treat security as a business enabler, invest in awareness and skills, and collaborate across industry, regulators, service providers, academia and consumers," PS Tanui said during the Cybersecurity Summit.

As part of modernising their data and information security systems, Safaricom said it is enhancing collaborations with different stakeholders including regulators, law enforcers, partners, and customers to share insights on emerging threats, coordinate response, and build capacity through tailored training services.

"We embed security by design into every innovation, including the latest M-PESA platform upgrade, one of the largest digital transformations in Africa’s financial ecosystem," explained Nicholas Mulila, Chief Corporate Security Officer, Safaricom PLC.

He added: "The mindset of 'prevent every breach' is no longer sustainable. The future demands cyber resilience, the ability to anticipate, withstand, and recover."

Beyond defending its network from threats, Safaricom said it has strengthened privacy practices, a push that earned it ISO 27701 certification, an international standard that recognises responsible management of customer data and information security.

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