By Eddah Waithaka
Top African leaders from government, industry, and academia launched Cyber Week Africa 2025 in Nairobi today, initiating a unified continental drive to build digital resilience and embed security into the very foundation of the continent’s technological growth.
The high-level conference, operating under the theme “Compliance by Design: Securing Africa’s Digital Future,” is being hosted by the Kenya School of Government (KSG) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4), CyberPro Global, and Huawei.
In his opening address, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, framed cybersecurity as a critical pillar of national sovereignty.
He declared a paradigm shift in Kenya’s strategy, moving from reactive security measures to proactive integration.
“The theme ‘Compliance by Design’ captures this fundamental change. It means we are embedding security, privacy, and accountability into the design of every digital system from its very inception,” CS Kabogo stated. “This is not just a technical necessity; it is an enabler of economic growth.”
The event immediately showcased a tangible outcome of public-private partnership, as Huawei celebrated the graduation of 40 government staff from an advanced network security training program.
This initiative directly equips public servants with the technical and policy skills needed to bolster national cyber defenses.
Mr. Samuel Cheng, Huawei Kenya’s Enterprise Business Managing Director, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to this mission.
“As an industry, we must ensure our networks and systems are resilient and secure. Huawei is firmly committed to this principle and to developing the local cybersecurity talent pool,” said Mr. Cheng.
Echoing the collaborative spirit, Prof. Nura Mohamed, Director General of the Kenya School of Government, highlighted KSG’s newly established Regional Center of Competence for Digital Skilling and Artificial Intelligence.
“We are bringing all stakeholders together to drive the cybersecurity and AI agenda, particularly in the public sector. This centre will guide the full implementation of these critical technologies,” Prof. Mohamed explained.
The conference also gained an international perspective from Israeli Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Mr. Gideon Behar, who commended Kenya’s leadership.
He shared that Israel’s own cybersecurity success stems from strong government-academia-industry collaboration.
“If a country doesn’t have cybersecurity today, it cannot advance. Everything is digitalized,” Ambassador Behar said. “Israel stands ready to support Kenya’s vision of becoming a regional hub for digital innovation and cybersecurity excellence.”
He extended an invitation to delegates for Cyber Week Israel 2025 in Tel Aviv this December, underscoring the global nature of the challenge.
Cyber Week Africa 2025 arrives as Kenya and the continent face a escalating number of sophisticated cyberattacks.
The conference positions Kenya at the forefront of a coordinated response, demonstrating that through strategic collaboration, the continent can build a secure, inclusive, and innovation-driven digital economy.
