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26th Kenya Homes Expo Opens in Nairobi

- April 12, 2018

The 26th edition of Kenya Homes Expo has kicked off at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. This year’s edition is sponsored by Blue...

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At AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya, taking place from 19-21 May, global cybersecurity company, Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za), talks about the current threat landscape in Kenya and the wider East Africa region, warning that the rapid development and adoption of artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for innovation while simultaneously introducing cyberthreats for businesses and individual users. With risks varying from AI-powered social engineering campaigns and deepfake fraud to “Shadow AI” risks inside organisations, Kaspersky advises organisations to adopt clear policies, cybersecurity controls and employee education to ensure AI technologies are deployed safely and responsibly. “As organisations in Kenya and the wider region accelerate digital transformation, cybersecurity is becoming a board-level priority. We are seeing growing awareness that innovation and security must develop hand in hand. Industry events such as GITEX play an important role in this process by helping businesses better understand both the impressive opportunities AI and digital technologies create, and the precautions needed to manage the evolving cyber risks that come with them,” says Chris Norton, General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Kaspersky. Cyberthreat landscape developments AI risks come amid other cybersecurity challenges of the evolving threat landscape in the region. Kaspersky data demonstrates that in 2025, password stealer attacks increased by 83% year-over-year in Kenya and 56% across Sub-Saharan Africa. Spyware attacks grew by the same figure of 83% in Kenya and 53% regionally, while backdoor attacks rose by 25% in Kenya and 8% across Sub-Saharan Africa. Although exploit attacks showed a slight decline, they remain a major concern due to their mass spread and unauthorised access they open to a users’ systems. Meanwhile, ransomware continues to pose a serious risk to organisations, with 7.62% of organisations in Africa experiencing ransomware detections in 2025. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) remain among the most serious risks for enterprises. According to the Kaspersky Security Services Global Report, APT groups were detected and blocked in 21% of customers in 2025 and accounted for 23% of all high-severity incidents. These highly organised groups increasingly combine AI-enhanced techniques with social engineering and targeted intrusion methods to maximise operational effectiveness. Cybersecurity traps of AI According to Kaspersky experts, cybercriminals can use AI across multiple stages of cyberattacks: from preparation and communication to assembling malicious components, probing for vulnerabilities and deploying tools, while simultaneously concealing evidence of AI involvement to complicate investigations and attribution. Malicious actors are also actively distributing malware disguised as AI tools to steal sensitive information from victims. One of the growing cybersecurity issues is the spread of deepfakes and AI-generated fraudulent content. As AI tools become more and more sophisticated, distinguishing authentic material from manipulated ones is becoming more difficult. Kaspersky researchers warn that AI models can also be vulnerable to “unintended memorisation”, where models retain fragments of sensitive information that attackers may later extract. Additional risks include malicious tampering with training datasets, injection of harmful logic into AI software code and exploitation of vulnerabilities within AI-powered systems. The emergence of AI agents, which are systems capable of autonomously taking actions on behalf of users, creates another significant attack surface. According to Kaspersky, these systems can be manipulated through adversarial content or misconfigured autonomy settings, potentially leading to harmful real-world actions. Kaspersky also highlights the growing challenge of “Shadow AI”, where employees use public AI services without oversight from IT departments. This creates uncontrolled data flows and increases the risk of confidential information exposure. A recent Kaspersky study* titled “Cybersecurity in the workplace: Employee knowledge and behaviour” showed that 87.8% of professionals surveyed in Kenya use AI tools for work-related tasks, including text editing, e-mail writing, data analytics and content creation. However, only 35% reported receiving cybersecurity training related to AI use. Essential Actions in the AI-driven IT world Kaspersky recommends organisations to regularly assess AI-related risks and establish comprehensive AI governance policies defining which AI tools are approved and what types of data can be processed. Regular employee training on secure AI usage, recognition of fake AI services, malicious links and prompt injection risks is equally essential. To effectively manage the growing range of cyber risks, organisations should adopt a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that combines advanced security technologies, reliable threat intelligence, strong internal processes and continuous employee education. Robust cybersecurity solutions, such as the AI-powered Kaspersky SIEM and Kaspersky Next product line, provide real-time protection, threat visibility, investigation and response capabilities. For private users, Kaspersky recommends exercising caution when using AI-powered tools, carefully reviewing privacy settings, verifying the authenticity of AI applications and double-checking information generated by agentic AI systems before making decisions based on automated outputs. The company also advises families to maintain open discussions with children regarding their use of AI technologies and online safety practices. Visit the Kaspersky stand at B10 in Hall 2 at GITEX Kenya to find out more. *The survey was conducted by Toluna research agency at the request of Kaspersky in 2025. The study sample included 2800 online interviews with employees and business owners using computers for work in seven countries: Türkiye, South Africa, Kenya, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

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Christine Gakii is a BIMAS customer from Mukothima, Tharaka North, Tharaka Nithi County. Her journey with BIMAS Microfinance began in 2014, after her life had taken a dramatic turn. Family disputes had stripped her of everything, leaving her in a state of despair. Just when all seemed lost, a trusted friend guided her towards BIMAS Microfinance. Her journey with BIMAS began with a modest loan of Ksh 30,000, which she invested in her dream of starting a cereal farm. Through hard work and perseverance, she repaid her loans faithfully and steadily climbed the loan tiers. Her farm flourished, expanding across multiple plots of land. With courage, she ventured into a new frontier: a pork butchery with a small kitchenette. Her determination paid off, and the business thrived. Seeing her dedication, BIMAS went further, helping her acquire a motorbike to transport her products more efficiently. As her pork business grew, the daily slaughtering of pigs demanded more water. Recognizing her relentless commitment, BIMAS provided funding for a water tank and an energy saving Jiko for her kitchenette. Christine's journey is truly inspiring. Despite facing many challenges, she has risen above them all. Now, she owns a thriving pork butchery, employs many people, and has become a successful landowner and farmer. She even owns three motorbikes. Christine dreams of building rental houses on one of her best pieces of land, which is close to an institute. With BIMAS ready to help, her dream is on its way to becoming a reality. She proudly refers to BIMAS Microfinance as her "father and mother," underscoring the profound impact it has had on her life. In a heartfelt message, she encourages those facing hardships not to turn to stress-induced drinking, but to seek support from BIMAS. She says, "At BIMAS, help is available for everyone." Christine's journey with BIMAS Microfinance exemplifies women empowerment and promotes multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Through initial funding and continuous support, BIMAS enabled her to break the cycle of poverty and establish a thriving business in cereal farming and pork butchery, enhancing food security in her community. By nurturing her entrepreneurship, BIMAS promotes gender equality and economic empowerment. Moreover, Christine's enterprise generates employment opportunities and sustains livelihoods. The provision of a water tank further ensures operational efficiency and supports her overall well-being.

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26th Kenya Homes Expo Opens in Nairobi

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