INTERPOL Flags Kenya as East Africa’s Cybercrime Hotspot INTERPOL

Kenya has emerged as one of East Africa’s most targeted countries for cybercrime, with attackers increasingly exploiting its mobile money ecosystem, telecommunications infrastructure, and digital financial services, according to the INTERPOL African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026.

The report, obtained on August 3, 2026, highlights the growing cyber risks linked to Kenya’s rapid digital transformation.

Kenya recorded more than 46,786 Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks during the first half of 2025, with telecommunications providers among the main targets. The attacks overwhelmed networks with malicious traffic, disrupting services used by millions of people.

Data from Kenya’s Communications Authority also showed hundreds of millions of attempted intrusions against government systems and ICT infrastructure between July and September 2025. Attackers relied on techniques including brute-force attacks and software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access.

One of the latest incidents cited was the hacking of Kenya’s official presidential website on July 18, 2026. Attackers defaced the website with a message directed at President William Ruto and demanded a ransom of 5 BTC, estimated at approximately KES 41 million ($318,000).

Mobile Money Under Attack: Mobile money fraud remains a significant concern.

According to the report, SIM-swap fraud increased by 327% in 2025, with more than 123,000 fraudulent SIM cards issued. Criminals used the compromised numbers to access victims’ mobile money accounts, resulting in approximately $3.8 million in losses.

Other East African countries are also facing growing cyber threats. Uganda recorded a suspected ransomware attack against its Electricity Transmission Company, while Tanzania and Rwanda reported increasing SIM-swap cases. Across the wider continent, South Africa accounted for 92% of ransomware detections in Southern Africa, while West Africa continued to experience high levels of business email compromise attacks.

INTERPOL said Kenya’s extensive digital financial ecosystem and interconnected telecommunications infrastructure have made it an attractive target for cybercriminal groups. The agency warned that criminals are increasingly exploiting differences in national laws and enforcement capabilities, highlighting the need for stronger regional cooperation, cybersecurity measures, and cross-border enforcement as Africa’s digital economy continues to expand.