Estonia and France to promote a safer cyberspace for all members of Kenyan society

Kenya’s digitalisation of public services requires the public to trust the government with personal data; to achieve that trust, there must be a secure digital infrastructure in place. However, some studies say as much as 88 percent of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error, which means users also have an important role to play in their own digital security. 

Lack of digital security leave citizens - especially women, youth and public service users - vulnerable to cybercrime, misinformation and online harassment. It also hampers the government’s ability to successfully implement e-services. Even so, basic cyber hygiene, such as multifactor authentication, is able to protect organisations from many attacks.  

Together with Expertise France (EF), the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) will implement a component of the project “Strengthening Kenya’s cybersecurity resilience,” which is funded by the European Union. Improved cybersecurity resilience means all citizens, including vulnerable groups, will be able to enjoy a safe, gender-responsive online experience. ESTDEV’s activities will be aimed at increasing awareness, improving cyber hygiene and changing user behaviour. All of this is essential to Kenya’s long-term digital security as it enhances the country’s overall cyber defence mechanisms. 

“Securing Kenya’s digital future requires an open and safe cyberspace. Through this project, we aim to strengthen the country’s legal and operational frameworks while raising public awareness and promoting cyber hygiene, so that everyone, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and youth, can participate safely and confidently in the digital society,” said Andres Ääremaa, ESTDEV’s programme manager for e-Governance and Cybersecurity. 

ESTDEV’s on-the-ground presence in Kenya will ensure all project activities are rooted in the local context and actually address the needs of Kenyan citizens. ESTDEV’s activities will result in the development of a national awareness and cyber hygiene strategy, the implementation of awareness campaigns and the creation of a cyber hygiene platform. The platform will improve the security of online behaviours across different user groups, serving both as a testing tool and as an interactive learning environment. 

“I see this platform as a concrete way to translate our broader goals into tools that citizens can actually use. The platform allows users to explore safe practices, test their knowledge and receive personalised feedback. By generating risk profiles and aggregating insights, it not only helps individuals understand and address their vulnerabilities but also provides evidence to shape more effective cybersecurity strategies,” said Laura Roop, ESTDEV’s project manager. 

To ensure that no one is left behind in the digital transition, project activities will include a gender-responsive approach. The workshops will be tailored to the needs of different user groups, particularly women, who are often prevented from fully participating in online communities due to harassment and other online risks. This type of approach will lead to more inclusive cybersecurity policymaking and institutional practices in the long run.   

“This approach is fully coherent with the philosophy of the Cyber Resilience Kenya project, which brings together legal and institutional reforms, operational capacity-building, and awareness and cyber hygiene to build strong cybersecurity foundations in Kenya. Cyber resilience depends not only on governance and technical capacities, but also on the crucial human dimension,” said Elisabeth Rivier, Expertise France’s project manager. “The project is also aligned with regional priorities under the East African Community’s agenda and contributes to the global cybersecurity agenda by promoting stronger integration and cooperation. Expertise France is proud to partner with ESTDEV in supporting Kenya’s efforts to build a safer, more resilient cyberspace.”  

This 2.5-year-long initiative has received a grant for 630,000 euros. It supports the Government of Kenya’s 2022 National Cybersecurity Strategy and complements the Ministry of ICT and Digital Economy’s digital transformation roadmap. It also builds on ESTDEV’s public e-services projects in Kenya and the European Union’s Digital for Development (D4D) Hub’s priorities for inclusive digital transformation.  

Together with its EU partners, Estonia has been working closely with Kenya to support the country’s digitalisation efforts. Estonia has proven to be a reliable development partner, especially in the fields of digital transformation, education and entrepreneurship.