Mastercard has cautioned that Kenya's heavy reliance on mobile money is exposing the country to increased cybersecurity risks. According to Mastercard's Africa Cybersecurity White Paper, Kenya's mobile money ecosystem, particularly M-Pesa, represents critical digital infrastructure that could attract the attention of cybercriminals seeking to access personal information and financial transactions. The report groups Kenya with Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco as the leading sources of observed cyber threat activity on the continent, reflecting their economic significance and growing digital networks.
The threat carries particular weight because mobile money has become integral to Kenyan life, underpinning everyday transactions including shopping, bill payments and business dealings. A successful cyberattack could therefore harm not just individual consumers, but also merchants and financial service providers, extending damage well beyond direct financial losses.