The Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information Communications and the Digital Economy Hon. Eliud Owalo today Thursday 26 October 2023 graced the Inaugural National Security Symposium themed Enhancing Cyber Security for National Development at the National Defence University- Kenya in Nakuru.
The symposium brought together stakeholders from the public, private, academia, and practitioners with vast professional backgrounds in Cyber Security. The symposium provided an intellectual and realistic engagement on the efficacy of measures taken to secure Kenya’s Cyberspace in addition to, proposing new measures to address contemporary and emerging cyber security threats for the overall benefit of the
In his address, the chief guest, Cabinet Secretary for Information Communication and Technology Hon. Eliud Owalo discussed the importance of cyber security for Kenya’s National Development. He noted that Kenya is increasingly becoming digitized and that cyber security is essential for protecting the country’s critical infrastructure, economic and national security. He also highlighted the government’s commitment to enhancing cyber security and called upon state and non-state actors to take steps to collectively champion measures to address vulnerabilities in the cyber domain.
“As we get increasingly enjoined into the benefits of digitalization, we must also control the long shadows that inevitably casts, foremost among them being the challenge of cyber security.” He said.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Hon Aden Duale who was also a key speaker noted that the Ministry of Defence shall endeavor to accommodate ICT reinforcement in its system and agencies. He further alluded that the Ministry of Defence is committed to allocating substantial funding and resources to Cyber security, research policy formulation, and review the correct security to incorporate cyber security and capability development.
On his part, the Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla who is also the Chairperson of the board underscored the significance of the symposium importance noting that it will go a long way in providing both state and non-state actors valuable experience and knowledge to formulate key resolutions to deal with cyber threats.
He further called for constant reviews of legal and regulatory frameworks governing cyberspace in dealing with a myriad of challenges bedevilling today’s Cyberspace.
Vice Chancellor of the National Defence University-Kenya, Major General Said Farah observed that the current digital space has provided a multiplicity of interdependent connectivity that, a single disruption of one field of the infrastructure can lead to a cessation of operations in other fields thus, the need for scholarly engagements and technological innovations to deal with the threat.
Also present during the symposium were Service Commanders, Major General John Nkoimo, Commandant Kenya Military Academy, Major General Eric Kinuthia Commandant Joint Command and Staff College, Major General (Rtd) Patrick Amogola, DVC Finance and Administration, Prof Meoli Kashorda CEO of KENET, Mr. Fredrick Musili, Head of Cybersecurity Central Bank of Kenya, Dr Vincent Ngundi, Ag. Director Cybersecurity, Communications Authority of Kenya among other authorities in the cyber security sector.
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