National Defence University-Kenya, on 26 October 2023, hosted its first National Security Symposium themed Enhancing Cyber Security for National Development at the Seat of the University in Lanet, Nakuru. Chief guest during the event was Cabinet Secretary (CS) in the Ministry of Information Communications and the Digital Economy Hon. Eliud Owalo. CS Ministry of Defence, Hon Aden Duale also attended the Symposium.

The University organised the symposium to create an environment where candid engagements on measures taken to secure Kenya's cyberspace would thrive and also where proposals for new measures to address contemporary and emerging cyber security challenges for the overall benefit of the nation would be made. Discussions centered on evolving cyber security threats, cyber espionage, state-sponsored attacks, ransomware attacks, phishing attacks as well as supply chain attacks.

In his address, CS Eliud Owalo discussed the importance of cyber security for Kenya National Development. He noted that Kenya is increasingly becoming digitized and that cyber security is essential for protecting the country's critical infrastructure, economic and national security. He also highlighted the government's commitment to enhancing cyber security and called upon state and non-state actors to take steps to protect themselves from cyber-attacks.

"As we get increasingly enjoined into the benefits of digitalization, we must also control the long shadows that inevitably casts, foremost among them being the challenge of cyber security." He said.

Hon Aden Duale noted that the Ministry of Defence shall endeavour to accommodate ICT reinforcement in its system and agencies. He further alluded that the Ministry of Defence is committed to allocating substantial funding and resources to Cyber security, research policy formulation, and review the correct security to incorporate cyber security and capability development.

On his part, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Francis Ogolla emphasized the significance of the symposium importance which he noted will go a long way in providing both state and non-state actors valuable experience and knowledge to formulate key resolutions to deal with cyber threats.

The CDF further called for constant reviews of legal and regulatory frameworks governing cyberspace in dealing with a myriad of challenges bedevilling today's Cyberspace.

Vice Chancellor of the National Defence University-Kenya, Major General Said Farah observed that the current digital space has provided a multiplicity of interdependent connectivity that, a single disruption of one field of the infrastructure can lead to a whole halt of operations in other fields thus, the need for scholarly engagements and technological innovations to deal with the threat.

Present during the symposium were Commander Kenya Army Lt Gen Peter Njiru, Commander Kenya Air Force Major General Mugaravai Omenda, Commander Kenya Navy, Major General Jimson Mutai, Deputy Governor Nakuru County, Mr David Kones, Commandant National Defence College, Major General Rashid Elmi, Commandant Joint Command and Staff College Major General Major General Eric Kinuthia, Commandant Kenya Military Academy, Major General John Nkoimo, Commandants and Principals of NDU-K, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Research, Innovation and Security Studies, Maj General William Shume, DVC Administration and Finance Major General (Rtd) Patrick Amogola, DVC Academic and Student Affairs Prof Anne Muigai, CEO KENET Prof Meoli Kashorda, Head of Cybersecurity Central Bank of Kenya Mr Fredrick Musili, , Ag. Director Cybersecurity, Communications Authority of Kenya, Dr Vincent Ngundi, academic and security researchers and as well as thought leaders in the fields of ICT, security, and defence.