eCitizen platform secure from attacks, says Owalo

A hooded cybercrime hacker tries to access site logins. [Getty Images]

Infrastructure Communication Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has assured Kenyans that the government has secured the nation’s digital platform in the wake of the cyberattack on the eCitizen portal.

According to the CS, the government has intensified the installation of critical infrastructure to strengthen the digital economy.

Speaking after launching digital laboratories at Ngiya Girls National School and St Mary’s Lwak Girls High School in Siaya County, the CS said the government is committed to strengthening the digitisation of the economy.

The CS noted that the protection of the infrastructure is critical in ensuring seamless operations around the country.

“Effectively securing the country’s critical infrastructure will move us toward the national development goals of the Kenya Kwanza government of transforming Kenya into a digital economy,” he said.

Ngiya Principal Hellen Juma said the new computers will help the school enrol more students in computer studies as they continue to work hard to lift the school where it belongs in terms of forgotten glory academic days.

"We appreciate the government's move to aid us with these critical facilities we needed to grow the school forward. The world today is technologically alive and it's good our girls will also have the opportunity to enhance their computer skills," said Juma.

Owalo said the digital programme will benefit at least a million youth annually. He said the government is establishing digital laboratories in all counties to enable students and the youth to acquire digital skills and secure local and international job opportunities.

He lauded the platforms as a solution to unemployment among the youth.

With formal employment becoming a challenge, the CS said, the digital programme would widen opportunities for the youth who acquire new skills, in accessing the job market.

“We are targeting to produce at least one million youth each year, who are skilled with digital technologies and we are also reaching out to international digital companies to absorb the graduates,” said Owalo.

To achieve the digital goal, Owalo said the government had rolled out a digital superhighway targeting 100,000km with fibre optic cable for Kenyans to access reliable and stable internet.

“We are not rolling out a digital skilling programme but it is part and parcel of the digital superhighway, which has digital skills and infrastructure,” said Owalo.

Owalo said 25,000 free WiFi hotspots in markets across the country will enable more Kenyans to access free internet.