• Kenya plans to partner with Safetech Innovations to boost cybersecurity and protect its digital economy.
• The deal includes training, knowledge sharing, and testing advanced cyber tools.
• It supports Kenya’s 2022–2027 strategy and builds on its top-tier global cybersecurity ranking.

Kenya is exploring a new cybersecurity collaboration with Safetech Innovations, a Romania-based cybersecurity firm with operations in the United Kingdom, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. This forms part of efforts to fortify its digital infrastructure and safeguard its growing online economy.

During a visit to Safetech Innovations on October 6, William Kabogo Gitau, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy (MICDE), held discussions focused on key areas of collaboration, including cybersecurity capacity building, knowledge exchange, and piloting innovative security solutions developed by Safetech. “Our goal remains clear—to strengthen Kenya’s cybersecurity posture, safeguard our digital infrastructure, and ensure a trusted digital economy for all,” he noted following the discussions.

Founded in 2011, the company has been at the forefront of building a secure digital future, offering world-class consultancy, security assessments, testing and audit services, incident response, and systems integration. Its Safetech Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) was highlighted as a model for proactive cyber defence that Kenya could adapt in its own cybersecurity ecosystem.

The collaboration aims to address Kenya’s widening cybersecurity skills gap and strengthen its national cyber readiness. Safetech is expected to support training initiatives, joint workshops, and knowledge transfer programs to build local expertise in security auditing, incident response, and threat intelligence. The two sides also discussed piloting advanced tools for system integration, managed detection and response (MDR), and real-time monitoring, leveraging Safetech’s global experience in protecting critical infrastructure and digital systems.

Kenya’s push for such partnerships comes at a time when cyber threats have surged dramatically. According to the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the country recorded During the three-month period between July and September 2024, the National KE-CIRT/CC detected over 657.8 million cyber threat events.

These figures underscore the urgency for Kenya to build local cybersecurity capacity. By partnering with international experts like Safetech, the government seeks to bridge the talent gap, improve resilience, and enhance its ability to detect, prevent, and respond to attacks. Beyond workforce development, the collaboration also presents an opportunity to strengthen Kenya’s National Computer Incident Response Team (National KE-CIRT/CC) through shared experience with private-sector CERT operations, such as Safetech’s.

Moreover, as Kenya implements its National Cybersecurity Strategy (2022–2027) and continues to modernise public services, international partnerships provide the technical depth and experience necessary to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Proactive defence, real-time monitoring, and predictive security measures will be crucial as the country’s reliance on digital platforms deepens.

Hikmatu Bilali