By Pascal Ndegwa - Reporter
Kenya, October 14, 2026 - Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy William Kabogo on Tuesday used the Safaricom Cyber Security Summit 2026 to issue a clear warning: as Kenya races to adopt artificial intelligence, the same technology is already being used to commit fraud, impersonate people and harm children online.
Speaking as chief guest at the summit, held under the theme “Harnessing AI, Strengthening Security,” Kabogo said artificial intelligence offers major opportunities to improve government services, business efficiency and cyber threat detection. At the same time, he cautioned that it is also enabling new forms of crime, including AI-powered fraud, sophisticated phishing attacks, identity impersonation and the creation of manipulated digital content.
He stressed that Kenya must embrace AI responsibly. This, he said, requires strong governance, clear accountability, meaningful human oversight and robust data protection frameworks. Without these safeguards, the benefits of AI could be undermined by rising digital risks and a loss of public trust.
Kabogo placed particular emphasis on the protection of children. He called for child online safety and digital trust to be placed at the centre of Kenya’s digital agenda, pointing to growing threats such as cyberbullying, online exploitation and AI-generated harmful content. As more young people go online, he argued, the country has a shared responsibility to ensure that the digital space remains safe and trusted.
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The CS said his Ministry remains committed to strengthening Kenya’s cybersecurity ecosystem through effective policies, the implementation of the national cybersecurity strategy, responsible AI adoption and closer collaboration with industry. Building a secure digital economy, he noted, will require coordinated action by government, the private sector, regulators, academia and citizens.
Present at the summit was Safaricom Group CEO Dr Peter Ndegwa alongside other industry stakeholders. Kabogo’s message was clear: innovation and security must advance together. Kenya can harness AI for growth, but only if it confronts the new risks the technology is already creating — especially scams, identity theft and threats to children online.