Kenya is seeking stronger international cooperation to tackle phone and cyber fraud as criminals increasingly exploit mobile technology and digital financial services to target members of the public. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said Thursday, September 10, that the government was open to new partnerships aimed at preventing, detecting and investigating cyber-related crimes. Murkomen identified mobile money scams, SIM swaps and data phishing among the forms of fraud that have become a growing challenge in recent years.
“Phone and cyber fraud, characterised by mobile money scams, SIM swaps and data phishing, has become a significant challenge in recent years,” Murkomen said.
He said Kenya would continue working with international partners and other stakeholders to strengthen efforts against such crimes while ensuring that technology is used responsibly and within the law.
“Kenya welcomes new collaborations to combat these crimes, and continues to work closely with partners and stakeholders to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute it,” he added.
Murkomen’s remarks highlight the growing need for cooperation between countries and institutions in dealing with cyber-enabled fraud. Unlike conventional crimes that are often confined to a particular location, phone and online fraud can involve perpetrators, victims, financial accounts and digital infrastructure in different jurisdictions. International cooperation can therefore assist authorities in tracing suspects, following digital transactions, sharing relevant information and building cases that can be pursued through the appropriate legal channels. Kenya’s approach, according to Murkomen, is to work with both international partners and domestic stakeholders in preventing and investigating such offences.
Mobile money has become an important part of Kenya’s financial system, but its widespread use has also created opportunities for fraudsters. SIM-swap fraud is one method used by criminals to take control of a victim’s mobile number. Once a number is transferred to another SIM card without the legitimate owner’s authorisation, criminals may attempt to access accounts or intercept communications linked to the number. Phishing schemes similarly seek to trick victims into revealing sensitive information through fraudulent messages, calls, emails or websites. The risks extend beyond mobile money accounts, particularly where telephone numbers are linked to banking, email and other digital services.
Kenya has established institutions responsible for coordinating responses to cyber threats and investigating technology-related offences. The National Kenya Computer Incident Response Team Coordination Centre (National KE-CIRT/CC), operated under the Communications Authority of Kenya, coordinates responses to cyber incidents and works with relevant local and international stakeholders. The government has also been strengthening the country’s broader cybersecurity framework as digital services continue to expand. Murkomen’s call for collaboration comes as authorities seek to improve their ability to respond to fraud that increasingly crosses traditional jurisdictional boundaries. While law-enforcement agencies pursue fraudsters, members of the public remain an important part of preventing such crimes. Users are generally advised not to disclose passwords, PINs, one-time verification codes or other sensitive information to people who request them through unsolicited calls or messages. Suspicious links and messages should also be treated cautiously, particularly where they request personal or financial information.
Murkomen’s remarks did not announce a new crackdown or specific enforcement operation. Instead, they reaffirmed Kenya’s intention to strengthen cooperation with international partners and stakeholders in dealing with phone and cyber fraud. The government says the objective is to improve the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of cyber-related crimes while ensuring that the use of technology remains responsible and consistent with the rule of law.