Government releases guide on probing cybercrime offences

The Government has launched the Rapid Reference Guide on Investigating and Prosecuting Offences under the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, as it intensifies efforts to secure Kenya’s rapidly expanding digital environment.

The launch follows a nationwide passive cyber-exposure assessment that identified more than 2,000 critical vulnerabilities and over 4.8 million leaked credentials.

Speaking during the launch, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said Kenya’s security threats have increasingly extended into the digital space where cybercrime has also become sophisticated.

“This reference guide is more than a publication. It is a practical tool for strengthening investigations, supporting prosecutions and helping to keep our cyberspace safe and secure,” he said.

He said investigators and prosecutors should be equipped to understand the law, follow and preserve digital evidence, and build cases that can withstand the scrutiny of the country’s courts.

Mobile-money fraud was cited as one of the areas in which criminal methods have become increasingly complex, with stolen funds being moved rapidly into virtual assets.

The guide addresses critical areas including mutual legal assistance, international cooperation, electronic evidence, offensive communication, the removal of unlawful online content, institutional coordination and the standardisation of investigative and prosecutorial procedures.

Kenya has committed to sharing cybercrime information with 76 countries and has initiated the process of acceding to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. The required parliamentary and public-participation processes are underway.

Dr Omollo, however, emphasised that participation in international cybercrime networks must be matched by stronger domestic capabilities.

“The fight against cybercrime cannot be won by Government alone. An informed and vigilant public is one of our strongest lines of defence. Wananchi must not be mere recipients of security but active partners in protecting our digital space.”

He explained that the lessons emerging during the implementation of the guide are meant to inform its continuous review and improvement.

Initiatives such as e-Citizen have been pointed out as one of the government’s commitments to expanding digital services.

“The Administration recognises the important role of technology in improving efficiency and access to public services. We are already benefiting from these innovations, but we must ensure that the systems and the people using them are protected,” he said.

This launch supports the Kenya Kwanza Administration's digitisation plans under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and the upcoming Beyond 2030 Vision, both aiming to turn Kenya into a high-income, tech-driven economy.