Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening national cybersecurity through enhanced collaboration with France under the Kenya Cyber Resilience (KCR) Project, as the country continues to expand its digital economy and online services.

Principal Secretary for ICT and the Digital Economy, John Tanui, held a strategic meeting with senior officials from Expertise France, cybersecurity experts and representatives from key Kenyan institutions to discuss progress and future priorities under the project.

“Strengthening National Cybersecurity Institutions – We reviewed progress in establishing key institutional frameworks that will enhance coordination, governance, and protection of Kenya’s digital ecosystem,” read the X post in part.

Cybersecurity policy framework

During the meeting, participants reviewed progress in establishing institutional frameworks aimed at improving coordination, governance and protection of Kenya’s digital ecosystem.

The discussions also focused on policy and regulatory reforms designed to address emerging digital opportunities and cybersecurity threats. Officials explored measures intended to strengthen Kenya’s cybersecurity environment as government services, businesses and citizens increasingly rely on digital platforms.

The Kenya Cyber Resilience Project seeks to support the country in developing structures that can effectively prevent, detect and respond to cyber incidents while safeguarding critical information infrastructure.

The engagement brought together Tahar Benattia, Head of Division, Global Threats Division at Expertise France; Elizabeth Rivier, Project Manager for the Kenya Cyber Resilience Project; Emmanuel Mutisya, Chair of the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kenya-AIST); Emmanuel Kata, Secretary for Cybersecurity and Audit Control; and senior officials from the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy.

Enhancing cyber resilience and workforce development

The meeting further examined initiatives aimed at improving information sharing, preparedness and response capabilities across government agencies and critical sectors.

Participants emphasized the importance of investing in skills development to build a highly trained cybersecurity workforce capable of responding to evolving threats. Areas highlighted included professional training, certification programmes, research collaborations and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

The discussions also underscored the role of academic institutions in advancing cybersecurity research and innovation. Kenya-AIST was identified as one of the institutions expected to contribute to talent development and research efforts supporting the country’s digital transformation agenda.

Kenya and France expand strategic digital partnership

Officials reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation between Kenya and France in cybersecurity, digital trust, innovation, research and academic partnerships.

The collaboration is expected to support ongoing efforts to enhance digital security while promoting innovation and economic growth within Kenya’s expanding digital economy.

“As Kenya accelerates its digital transformation journey under the leadership of President William Samoei Ruto, we remain committed to building a secure, trusted, and resilient digital ecosystem that supports innovation, economic growth, and national competitiveness,” Tanui said.

He also thanked Expertise France for its continued support in implementing the Kenya Cyber Resilience Project and advancing bilateral cooperation in cybersecurity.

The engagement forms part of broader efforts by the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy to strengthen national cyber resilience and position Kenya as a leading digital economy in the region through secure and trusted digital infrastructure.