By Duncan Mboyah
Kenya and the European Union have launched the Kenya Cyber Resilience (KCR) project to support cyber security.
The project that is known as “Strengthen the Resilience of the Cybersecurity Ecosystem of Kenya (KCR)” will also be an inclusive and trusted digital transformation.
Funded by the European Union with KES. 454 million (EUR 3 million) over 36 months, the project supports Kenya in strengthening its national cybersecurity ecosystem for citizens, public institutions and businesses.
Henriette Geiger, European Union Ambassador to Kenya said that cybersecurity underpins trust in the digital economy and the delivery of public services.
“With Kenya’s rapid expansion of e-government services, digital payments and online platforms, strong cyber resilience is vital to protect critical information infrastructure, maintain service continuity and safeguard citizens’ rights,” Geiger said.
Eng. John Tanui, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy in charge of the State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy explained that KCR Project is fully aligned with existing national frameworks, including the National Cybersecurity Strategy and the Digital Master Plan, and is designed to operationalize the Government’s long-term digital ambitions.
He revealed that the project was developed through extensive consultations with national stakeholders to ensure it responds to real institutional needs and priorities.
Stephen Isaboke, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and Digital Economy in charge of Broadcasting and Telecommunications noted that cyber resilience is not a tech problem but a national priority.
Isaboke observed that the launch is a prerequisite for Kenya’s economic growth and the guardian of democratic values.
The launch of the Kenya Cyber Resilience Project he said, marks the beginning of a 36-month journey toward a safer digital Kenya.
The KCR project is implemented by Expertise France, the French public agency for international technical cooperation, in grant partnership with Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), in close coordination with Kenyan authorities to ensure national ownership and sustainability.
The project is structured around strengthening legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks for cybersecurity, enhancing national and sectoral operational capacities for cyber incident prevention and response and promoting cybersecurity awareness, inclusion and trust, with particular attention to women, youth and public service users.
The KCR project is fully aligned with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, the Team Europe Initiative on Human-Centred Digitalisation, and the EU–AU Digital Compact, and contributes to strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Kenya in the digital and cybersecurity domains.
Through this initiative, the EU reaffirms its long-term commitment to supporting Kenya’s digital transformation in a secure, inclusive and sustainable manner, and to reinforcing cyber resilience as a foundation for development, stability and trust