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Kenyan Cyberwarfare: Hackvists Launch Unprecedented Attack
The National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4) Thursday warned of increased global internet traffic targeted at several critical information infrastructures in Kenya. The threats have been disrupting essential services, including banking.
In a statement, the NC4 said that the increased threats have mainly disrupted the telecommunications, banking, and education sectors. The agency warned research and education institutions to be on the lookout for service attacks.
“We recommend that Kenya Education Network Trust informs all research and education institutions in Kenya to implement necessary cybersecurity measures,” the NC4 said.
The Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) also announced on Thursday that it is experiencing a network breakdown which has resulted in the unavailability of some services. KPLC said the services affected include the purchase of prepaid tokens.
“We are experiencing a system hitch due to a network breakdown from our service provider. Consequently, some of our services such as the purchase of prepaid tokens through M-Pesa and USSD Code *977# are unavailable,” KPLC said.
The company advised customers to buy tokens from their banking halls, Airtel Money, and authorized banks.
The Nc4’s warning comes as Kenya is facing a growing number of cyber threats. In recent months, there have been a number of high-profile cyber attacks on Kenyan businesses and government agencies.
The NC4 urged Kenyans to be vigilant and to take steps to protect themselves from cyber threats. The agency also advised businesses and government agencies to implement strong cybersecurity measures.
As a result of the attack, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said that Kenya-bound passengers would be given visas upon their arrival in the country due to difficulties in processing the Passport endorsements on the e-Citizen platform.
In an interview with a local radio station, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo noted that the cyber attack was reported earlier this week.
“To me that was not strange because cyber-attacks are predominant world over,” Owalo said.
“There was an attack. We are addressing that, we are not just coming up with instant remedial measures to address the current situation, we will build an elaborate risk mitigation framework.”
Several businesses and government services were affected including the E-citizen platform that has more than 5 000 government services. The portal is a one-stop shop for government services, and it houses sensitive personal data for millions of Kenyans.
Kenya Railways Corporation Thursday announced a glitch in its online ticketing for the Standard Gauge Railway customers.
Through a press statement, the Corporation notified its customers that they had a technical challenge in booking for the SGR seats and offered an alternative.
“We are currently experiencing a technical hitch with our ticketing system which we are working to resolve. In the meantime, we advise that you visit any Madaraka Express passenger service station to make your bookings,” the statement read in part.
The corporation apologized to its customers promising to give updates upon full restoration of services.
The attack, which also paralyzed several banks’ mobile banking applications, was believed to be executed by a group of hackers who identified themselves as Anonymous Sudan. The group, which claimed responsibility, used a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack to flood various government and private businesses’ portals with traffic, making them inaccessible to users.
Former President Kenyatta lectures President Ruto For Raiding His Home
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has accused the government of planting guns and drugs on his son Jomo’s property during a raid last week.
Kenyatta, who spoke to news editors on Monday, said he believes the raid was an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing anti-government protests. He also denied that his sons own any illegal firearms.
“This gun issue is surrounded by lots of propaganda to divert attention from what has been happening,” Kenyatta said. “I believe they wanted to plant drugs and guns in my son’s compound.”
Kenyatta said he was “extremely hurt” by the raid, which he said came after his son received a distress call. He also clarified that his daughter Ngina does not own a firearm.
The government has not commented on Kenyatta’s allegations. However, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said last week that the raid was part of a broader operation to weed out civilian firearm holders and leaders of known criminal gangs.
Kenyatta also revealed that he has been forced to share his security with his mother, Mama Ngina Kenyatta, after her security was withdrawn last week.
“The benefits my mum enjoys are not because of me but because she is a former First Lady,” Kenyatta said. “We have to hire private security guards.”
Raila Odinga, the opposition chief also criticized attacks against Kenyatta by the government and the withdrawal of Mama Ngina Kenyatta’s state security.
“These developments are alien to this country. As a country, we adopted the unwritten rule that for the sake of stability and dignity of our nation, we shall as much as possible let retired presidents live in peace,” Odinga said.
“We left President Moi and President Kibaki in peace. We appreciate the good they did and learn from their mistakes. This is pretty much the case in virtually all countries unless a retired president is actively involved in undermining the state.”
He added: “The developments here are therefore very worrying. I fear for my country. I have lived in a dictatorship before. I fear a new dictatorship is taking roots here and our work is cut out for us.”
The raid on Jomo Kenyatta’s property has sparked a political storm in Kenya. The opposition has accused the government of harassment and intimidation, while the government has defended the raid, saying it was necessary to crack down on illegal firearms.
The raid comes at a time of heightened political tension in Kenya. The country is currently in the midst of a series of anti-government protests, which have been met with a heavy-handed response from security forces.
The protests were sparked by the government’s decision to increase fuel prices. However, they have since evolved into a broader expression of discontent with the government’s performance.
The government has accused the opposition of inciting the protests. However, the opposition has denied these allegations, saying that the protests are a spontaneous expression of the people’s anger.
Majority of Kenyans Feel Country Headed in Wrong Direction, Survey Finds
A majority of Kenyans believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction, according to a new survey by Infotrak. The survey, which was conducted between July 3 and 8, 2023, sampled 2,400 respondents and found that 71% of them felt the country was headed in the wrong direction. Only 15% said the country was headed in the right direction, while 12% were uncertain.
The survey also found that those who felt the country was headed in the wrong direction were more likely to be from Nyanza and Western regions, while those who felt it was headed in the right direction were more likely to be from Central, North Eastern, and Rift Valley regions.
The survey respondents who felt the country was headed in the wrong direction cited a number of reasons for their belief, including the high cost of living, unemployment, poverty, and poor governance. Those who felt the country was headed in the right direction cited factors such as the peace in the country, the affordability of the cost of living, and the executive, meaning the president and cabinet.
The survey also found that 87% of Kenyans were aware of the Finance Act 2023, which was passed by Parliament in June 2023. Of those who were aware of the act, 22% said they supported the tax measures proposed by the government, while 78% said they did not support them.
The survey results suggest that a majority of Kenyans are dissatisfied with the direction of the country. The high levels of dissatisfaction are likely due to a number of factors, including the rising cost of living, the high unemployment rate, and the perception that the government is not doing enough to address these issues.
The survey results also suggest that there is a significant divide in Kenyans’ perceptions of the country’s direction. Those who are from Nyanza and Western regions are more likely to believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction, while those who are from Central, North Eastern, and Rift Valley regions are more likely to believe that the country is headed in the right direction.
President Ruto Offers to Meet with Raila Odinga
President William Ruto Tuesday said that he is open to holding one-on-one talks with opposition supremo Raila Odinga.
Ruto made the offer in a Twitter statement while announcing that he was jetting off to Tanzania for a human capital meeting.
“My friend Raila Odinga, I am off to Tanzania for a human capital meeting to harmonise the expansion of employment opportunities in our continent,” said Ruto.
“Am back tomorrow evening, and as you have always known, am available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience.”
Ruto’s offer came hours after Raila claimed that the head-of-state had thwarted efforts to mediate a political truce between Azimio la Umoja coalition and the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Raila said that many eminent people, both local and international, have tried in vain to bring the two together to help defuse rising tensions between the government and the opposition.
This impasse had led to a standoff between Ruto and Odinga who was spearheading weekly anti-government protests that have led to deaths, injuries, destruction of property, and greatly affected the economy.
Among those who have offered to mediate is Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, who Raila claimed was kept waiting for days after traveling to Nairobi a fortnight ago to negotiate a ceasefire.
“The President of Tanzania came here two weeks ago at the invitation of President Ruto to mediate and she was kept waiting,” said Raila.
“She spent two nights here and it was all in vain. Other people have tried, but he is the one who is resisting so basically knows what he wants.”
Ruto has previously insisted that there would be no “handshake” between him and Raila.
However, in his Twitter statement on Tuesday, Ruto did not rule out the possibility of a handshake, saying that he was “available to meet one on one with you anytime at your convenience.”
It remains to be seen whether Raila will accept Ruto’s offer to meet. However, the offer is a sign that Ruto is willing to engage in dialogue with the opposition, which could help to defuse tensions in the country.
The tensions between Ruto and Raila have increased in recent months. Raila has been leading weekly anti-government protests thanks to the high cost of living among other things. However, Ruto has accused him of being a threat to national security.
High Court Stops Police From Arresting Azimio Leaders
Eleven Azimio leaders from Kilifi County have been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court in Mombasa. The leaders, led by Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo, had filed the application after learning that the police were planning to arrest them on false and trumped up charges.
The leaders argued that they had the intention of lawfully and peacefully participating in the countrywide demonstrations called by Azimio leader Raila Odinga to protest the high cost of living. They also pointed out that in the last couple of days, persons and politicians linked to Azimio had been arbitrarily arrested and faced with trumped up charges.
The court granted the anticipatory bail application, ordering the police to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the case. The leaders are represented by lawyer Danstan Omari.
Court of Appeal Lifts Ban on Controversial Finance Act
The Court of Appeal Friday lifted conservatory orders barring the implementation of the controversial Finance Act 2023, in a major win for President Ruto.
The appellate court ruled that the government, who appealed the suspension through the Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndungu, has satisfied the twin principles to warrant the grant of the orders sought.
The twin principles are that the applicant has a prima facie case and that there will be irreparable harm if the orders are not granted.
Further, the court found that there would be irreparable harm if the conservatory orders were not lifted. The court noted that the suspension of the Finance Act 2023 was affecting government operations, and that there would be serious economic consequences if the suspension was not lifted.
The court also noted that the appeal would be heard and determined within 60 days. This means that the government will be able to implement the Finance Act 2023 in the meantime.
The lifting of the conservatory orders is a major victory for the government. It will allow the government to implement the Finance Act 2023, which is expected to raise an additional Sh 211 billion in revenue.
The lifting of the conservatory orders is also a setback for the activists who challenged the Finance Act 2023. A majority of Kenyans also are opposed to the implementation of the Act, as it increases the already high cost of living.
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