• Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) creates sector-wide cybersecurity operations center (BS-SOC).

• Fraud cases in banks more than doubled in 2024, with losses nearing KES 1.5 billion ($11.6m).

• All regulated financial institutions must now report cyber incidents under stricter rules.

Kenya’s central bank has launched a new cybersecurity operations center for the banking sector, aiming to bolster resilience against rising cyber threats that have cost Africa billions of dollars in recent years.

The Banking Sector Security Operations Center (BS-SOC), announced on September 22, will operate under the CBK’s Cyber Fusion Unit. It will provide threat intelligence, incident response, digital forensics and cybercrime investigations.

Press Release: Establishment of Banking Sector Cyber Security Operations Centrehttps://t.co/nMOR1Z1rtI pic.twitter.com/niYZJjPexp

— Central Bank of Kenya (@CBKKenya) September 22, 2025

The CBK stated that complete collaboration among all stakeholders is essential for the success of the BS-SOC, as this partnership is crucial for fortifying the sector against advanced threats.

All licensed banks and payment service providers will be required to report cyber incidents within prescribed timelines. They must also comply with both earlier cybersecurity directives and new rules issued in 2024, pending a full regulatory harmonization.

The initiative aligns with Kenya’s 2024 regulation on critical infrastructure and cybercrime prevention, as well as CBK’s 2024–2027 strategic plan. It comes amid a sharp rise in attacks targeting financial institutions.

Fraud cases in Kenya’s banking sector more than doubled in 2024 to 353 from 153 a year earlier, the CBK said in its August 2025 financial stability report. The amount exposed rose to KES 1.9 billion ($14.7 million), while actual losses almost quadrupled to KES 1.5 billion.

By establishing the BS-SOC, CBK aims to strengthen defenses, curb financial losses and restore public trust in the financial system. The platform is also expected to improve cooperation among banks, payment providers and regulators, reinforcing stability in the country’s banking sector.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum