Kenya's new National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) now has a governing board. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen inaugurated it on Monday at Harambee House in Nairobi. Dr Martin Koyabe chairs the board, according to The Star and The Eastleigh Voice.
The agency was created under the State Corporations (National Cybersecurity Agency) Order, 2026, and operates autonomously, The Eastleigh Voice reported. Its board members represent the Interior Ministry, the National Treasury, the ICT Authority, the Attorney-General, the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service, the National Intelligence Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. One of the board's main tasks is to strengthen the National Cybersecurity Operations Centre. The centre detects, analyses and coordinates responses to cyber threats in real time.
Murkomen said digital transformation had widened access to services and created new economic opportunities. He warned that heavier reliance on technology also exposes Kenya to more sophisticated cyber threats. He called for a cybersecurity architecture that is "proactive rather than reactive, coordinated rather than fragmented". He said it must also protect both national interests and constitutional rights.
The CS asked the board to develop Kenyan talent, invest in research and build homegrown cyber defence tools, The Eastleigh Voice reported. He urged it to work with universities and to invest in advanced analytics, vulnerability assessments and AI-enabled defence. He also told members not to let rivalry between their home institutions get in the way of their shared job.
Murkomen gave the board a tight schedule. He asked members to hold a two-day retreat within a week to finalise human resource documents. These will go to the Commission on Administrative Review and Compensation, the Public Service Commission and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission for approval. He said the next two months should be spent putting top management and staffing structures in place ahead of January 2027.
He warned against relying on seconded officers for long periods. He said the agency needs permanent staff, especially young Kenyans with technical skills. The government will work to secure funding and offices, he said. He added that the agency could also attract private investment and support from development partners.
Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the agency is central to securing the systems built under the Digital Superhighway programme. He said protecting sensitive information and maintaining public trust in online services will remain critical as more services go digital.