The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), in collaboration with high profile stakeholders in the tech world like Meta, Google and Safaricom have marked the annual Global Safer Internet Day 2025, focusing on child protection and internet fraud prevention.
The event held in Nairobi gathered government officials, industry leaders, educators, and digital policy experts to discuss strategies for a safer digital environment for Kenyans.
The occasion was graced by the Principal Secretary (PS) for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Professor Edward Kisiang’ani, emphasised the urgent need to tackle online threats, particularly those targeting children.
Prof Kisiang’ani highlighted the significant risks that the internet, despite its revolutionary nature, poses to children and society as a whole.
“We must take collective responsibility to ensure it is a space for growth and innovation, not exploitation and harm,” he urged.
Furthermore, the PS stressed the need for global cooperation in cyber security and called for the development of universal frameworks to regulate internet use and ensure online safety.
Meanwhile, during the event, the speaker highlighted the government’s initiatives to establish a secure digital infrastructure, including the deployment of 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable and the establishment of 1,450 digital hubs.
On the other hand, CAK Director General Mr David Mugonyi highlighted the dual reality of internet use in Kenya, highlighting both transformative opportunities and potential dangers like cyberbullying, fraud, and hacking.
Mugonyi revealed Kenya has detected 1.5 billion cyber threats in the past six months, emphasizing the need for internet users to be vigilant and protect themselves from online scams.
Senior Lead for Cyber-Security and Defence at Safaricom PLC Patricia Chepkoech, highlighted the company’s efforts to safeguard digital transactions, particularly through their mobile money platform, M-Pesa.
Chepkoech stated that fraud starts with money, and M-Pesa is often a great target adding that Safaricom has implemented strict controls to prevent misuse and ensure the safety of its users.
She also spoke about the company’s initiatives to protect children through products like M-Pesa Go and collaborative efforts with partners for child safety online.
On the other hand, the Chief Legal and Regulatory Affairs Officer at Jamii Telecommunications Ms. Caroline Simba, underscored the importance of digital literacy quoting UNICEF and Interpol reports.
She pointed out the alarming statistics on children’s exposure to online risks disclosing that six out of ten children aged between 8 and 12 are exposed to cyber risks.
Simba reiterated that both children and parents should be educated on online safety and responsible digital behavior.
Meanwhile, Governance Affairs and Public Policy Lead at Google, Michael Mirungi, introduced tools such as Google Family Link, designed to help parents monitor their children’s online activities.
He also discussed Google’s new initiative ‘Experience AI’ which is aimed at educating students on the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence (AI), including AI safety.
Representing Meta (formerly Facebook), Ms. Mercy Ndegwa outlined the company’s commitment to creating safe online spaces for its 22 million user base in Kenya.
She also mentioned tools developed to help parents monitor and control their children’s experiences on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Ndegwa said that Meta has invested in over 30 tools and has a dedicated team of 40,000 people globally working to ensure online safety
In her remarks the CEO of the Technology Service Providers of Kenya (TESPOK) Fiona Asonga called on tech companies to adopt schools and work directly with students to promote online safety.
“It just doesn’t take connecting schools alone but also ensuring that children know how to navigate the internet safely,” she advised.
Ultimately, Stakeholders agreed on the importance of collaboration between governments, industry, parents, and educators to foster a culture of online responsibility and safety.
The celebration of Safer Internet Day 2025 served as both a reflection on progress made and a call to action to address the ongoing challenges in Kenya’s digital lan
