Reports have emerged that President William Ruto’s official website was compromised by hackers who demanded a ransom payment of five bitcoins in exchange for restoring access.
At the current market value of approximately KSh8.26 million per bitcoin, the ransom demand was estimated at about KSh41.3 million.
The hackers displayed the ransom message on the website’s homepage, giving the government a deadline to make the payment while threatening to release what they claimed was sensitive government information.
“This message is the third time for you or we leak everything about you. Do a payment of five Bitcoin to the Bitcoin wallet if you want peace before 6 o’clock this evening,” the message displayed on the website read.
Government launches forensic investigation
Following the incident, the government launched a forensic investigation to establish the extent of the breach and determine the individuals behind the attack.
Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy William Kabogo said the investigation would help establish the circumstances surrounding the incident as authorities work to restore the website.
The incident comes amid rising concerns over cyber threats targeting Kenya’s digital infrastructure.
A report by the National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee (NC4) released in June indicated that Kenya recorded more than three billion cyberattack attempts targeting government systems, cloud services and critical digital infrastructure within a three-month period.
The report highlighted Nairobi as having the highest number of reported cybercrime cases, including unauthorised access to computer systems, computer fraud, identity theft and cyber harassment.
The NC4, chaired by Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Raymond Omollo, has been working with key sectors such as banking, telecommunications, aviation and energy to strengthen cybersecurity measures.
The committee is also developing a Rapid Reference Guide aimed at improving the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime cases across the country.
