Kenya calls for regional collaboration on AI and cybersecurity at IGAD seminar
Date: 2025-06-19
Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, William Kabogo, has urged East African nations to strengthen cooperation in addressing emerging digital threats during the opening of a high-level regional seminar. The event, themed 'Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: Cooperation and Resilience,' brought together delegates from IGAD member states to deliberate on collective solutions for the digital age.
Speaking at the
forum, CS Kabogo highlighted the dual nature of technological progress, noting
that while AI and digital transformation present unprecedented opportunities
for governance and economic growth, they also introduce new vulnerabilities. "The
same tools revolutionizing our societies are being weaponized by cybercriminals
and malicious actors," he stated. "No single nation possesses
all the answers – our security in this digital era depends on regional
solidarity."
The Cabinet
Secretary outlined Kenya's multipronged approach to digital development,
anchored in the 2022–2032 National Digital Master Plan. Key initiatives include
the ongoing deployment of 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic infrastructure,
nationwide digital skills training, and the establishment of innovation hubs to
nurture homegrown solutions. He also spotlighted Kenya's forthcoming 2025–2030
AI Strategy, designed to position the country as a continental leader in
ethical artificial intelligence applications across critical sectors like
healthcare, education, and public service delivery.
Among the
concrete proposals advanced by Kenya was the creation of regional mechanisms
for cybersecurity intelligence sharing, harmonized policy frameworks, and a
network of specialized AI research centers linked to academic institutions
across IGAD states. "We must move beyond isolated efforts and build
interconnected systems for threat detection, capacity building, and secure data
exchange," Kabogo emphasized.
The seminar
attracted high-level participation including IGAD Executive Director Dr.
Workneh Gebeyehu, Norway's Ambassador to Kenya Gunnar Andreas Holm, and
security experts from member states. Discussions focused on balancing
innovation with safeguards, with particular attention to protecting critical
infrastructure and personal data in an era of increasingly sophisticated cyber
threats.
By: Kanto Kai Okanta
