Hackers Disrupt Major Kenyan Ministries, Online Services Blocked

A coordinated cyber attack has disrupted multiple government websites in Kenya, blocking access to key online services on Monday morning.

Users attempting to reach official platforms were met with denial-of-service notices and extremist slogans, including “Access denied by PCP”, “We will rise again”, and racist messages such as “White power worldwide” and “14:88 Heil Hitler”. 

No group has claimed responsibility, though the attackers referenced an address in Leicester, UK, prompting questions about the source of the breach. The disruption affected several major ministries, including Interior, Health, Education, Energy, Labour and Water. Regulatory bodies such as the Gambling Regulatory Authority were also targeted. 

High-profile platforms, including the Immigration Department, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Hustler Fund, the State House website and Nairobi County services were similarly compromised. In an internal notice to government staff, the ICT Authority confirmed the incident and urged caution. 

The agency said its cybersecurity team was working with relevant partners to contain the breach and advised officials to avoid accessing affected sites while reporting any unusual activity through designated channels. Cyber attacks generally involve attempts to infiltrate or disable computer systems, often to steal information, obstruct operations or undermine institutional credibility. 

The use of extremist slogans in this case suggests a possible ideological motive, although investigators have not yet established responsibility. Kenya has faced comparable incidents before. In 2023, an attack on the e-Citizen portal disrupted access to thousands of government services.