Routledge Companion to Global Cyber-Security Strategy

46CYBER SECURITY IN KENYA

Balancing economic security and internet freedom

James D. Fielder

Introduction

The year 2010 was a momentous one for Kenya’s human rights and global connectivity, ushering in both a new constitution and linking to the Eastern African Submarine Cable System undersea fiber optic cable. The latter event marked Kenya’s third of three undersea connections, which dramatically increased Kenya’s internet bandwidth. Online in various forms since 1995, Kenya has long strived to lead East Africa’s information and communication technology (ICT) development and in many ways has achieved the distinction: Kenya was one of the first countries in Africa – if not the world – to establish national cyber governance and associated institutions. ...