State warns of hidden dangers of online anonymity

Kenya has raised urgent concerns over the growing menace of harmful anonymity in cyberspace, warning that it is fast becoming a major barrier to accountability and justice across Africa.

Internal Security Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said the anonymous nature of online activity has fueled a thriving market for cybercrime.

“Across Africa, anonymity continues to impede investigations, frustrate accountability, and complicate the presentation of digital material before the courts of law,” Omollo said.

Omollo was speaking during the opening of the Third African Forum on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence in Nairobi.

The PS explained that harmful anonymity has allowed the unchecked trading of stolen personal data, the circulation of child exploitation material, and the sale of malware, ransomware kits, and hacking tools targeting individuals, corporations, and even states.

INTERPOL recently uncovered a Kenyan cybercrime network that siphoned off Sh1.1 billion through banking fraud between September and October 2024.

Kenyan authorities also cracked a case of online credit card fraud involving losses of USD 8.6 million.

In 2021, the ten most harmful child sexual abuse material sites on the dark web had over three million registered accounts.

Beyond cybercrime, harmful anonymity is being exploited to recruit individuals into organised criminal and extremist networks, money laundering schemes, smuggling rings, human trafficking operations, and radical ideologies.

It has also facilitated online markets for weapons, drugs, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and sophisticated surveillance tools, posing serious threats to public safety.

In his address, Omollo urged African states to explore innovative but rights-respecting solutions, including secure digital identity systems.

These systems, he said, can protect privacy while enabling lawful tracing of malicious activities without compromising civil liberties.

He also emphasised the need to strengthen law enforcement capacity with modern forensic tools and specialised skills to investigate and prosecute cybercrime effectively.

“Prosecutors are often required to submit certified evidence and rely on expert testimony to establish its authenticity and reliability. Yet challenges like secure storage, chain-of-custody procedures, and the lack of harmonised frameworks across jurisdictions continue to hinder successful prosecution,” he said.

Omollo highlighted that cybercrime rarely respects national boundaries, making timely international cooperation essential.

Supreme Court of Kenya Justice Smokin Wanjala underscored the need for judicial preparedness to keep pace with digital crimes.

“Unless judges are properly equipped, they are unlikely to render justice in the manner expected because of the complexity of the crimes we are dealing with,” he said, adding that training must be multi-sectoral and collaborative, involving investigators, prosecutors, and judges.

Kenya has recently updated its legal framework, including amendments to the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act and the Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025, to regulate cryptocurrency activities under strict oversight.

These measures align Kenya with the Budapest Convention and global standards while strengthening international cooperation on cybercrime.

Virgil Spiridon, Head of Operations at the Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Programme Office, praised Kenya’s leadership, noting, “Why is this forum organised in Kenya? Because of the commitment, the experience, and the leading role Kenya plays in fighting against cybercrime.”

As Kenya strengthens its digital defenses, authorities say confronting harmful online anonymity is key to protecting citizens, safeguarding public infrastructure, and ensuring that criminals are held accountable.