Nairobi: The Communication Authority of Kenya (CA) in partnership with Huawei, has committed to invest in Kenya's growing digital landscape to equip it with cybersecurity expertise to counter rising cyber threats. Speaking during the 2025 Cybersecurity Bootcamp Award Ceremony, the Director General (DG) Communication Authority of Kenya David Mugonyi, emphasized the critical role of the Authority in managing spectrum and ensuring cybersecurity.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mugonyi reiterated that one of the Authority's critical responsibilities is managing Spectrum, the resource used by telecommunications companies to enable communication, with an additional role in supporting e-commerce and cybersecurity. 'We help the country to be secure because that is part of the work we do,' affirmed Mugonyi. He stressed that the growing threat of cyberattacks has underscored the need for more trained professionals in the digital network field.
'Globally, there are about 14 institutions that can claim to be cyber secure, representing approximately six percent of institutions; hence, no one can say they are cyber secure,' asserted the DG. Mugonyi further restated that with internet access expanding across Kenya, cybersecurity threats are also on the rise, hence the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals to safeguard Kenya's digital landscape.
'We need more people in this cyber industry to help Kenyans so that they can be secure in that environment,' rallied Mugonyi. Echoing similar sentiments was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Huawei Kenya, Steven Zhang who noted that the CA has played a crucial role in the protection of Kenya's cyberspace which is well recognized globally.
Zhang pointed out that Huawei-Kenya has had a long partnership with CA and the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy, stressing that the firm will continue supporting cyberspace. 'I believe this cybersecurity collaboration is a wonderful example of partnership with all sides, contributing experts, technical support, content, staff, online platform, and other resources,' expressed Zhang.
He added that Huawei, a key partner in the initiative, is committed to cybersecurity in Kenya, where it has operated for over 25 years. 'Huawei, as the global ICT leader takes cybersecurity seriously, and we are also proud of our track record in Kenya. We have earned the trust of our partners, our customers in the telecommunications companies, banks, government agencies, private sector, and individual consumers,' noted the Deputy CEO.
'We will continue to do our utmost to provide a secure solution for our customers in Kenya that will keep the country secure, as well as further cybersecurity training for the government, industry experts, as well as students and other Kenyan citizens,' Zhang vowed. The Director of Cybersecurity at the Communication Authority, Dr. Vincent Ngundi, noted that the initiative, which has benefitted from various collaborations, began in 2022 with approximately 1,700 students participating.
'Since 2022 we have seen tremendous growth in the number of students who applied, soaring to over 6,000 which has been the highest to date,' he said. Additionally, Dr. Ngundi maintained that cybersecurity remains a pressing issue stating, 'Cybersecurity continues to be a national concern and it is our duty that students from all the regions can benefit from these opportunities.'
He revealed that the initiative aims to prepare students for professional careers and act as a stepping stone for more students looking to enter the professional world. Dr Ngundi also reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing cybersecurity talent and empowering the next generation of cybersecurity experts to secure the nation's digital future by shaping the future of cybersecurity.