Kenya is strengthening cooperation with China and other countries to tackle the growing threat of phone and cyber fraud as criminals increasingly exploit mobile networks and digital platforms to steal money and personal information.
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said Kenya was ready to work with international partners to prevent, detect, investigate and prosecute cyber-enabled crimes.
Murkomen spoke on Thursday, September 10, 2026, in Lianyungang, China, where he represented Kenya at the inaugural conference of the International Alliance for Combating Telecom and Cyber Fraud.
He said the growing use of mobile money scams, SIM swaps and data phishing had made phone and cyber fraud a significant security challenge.
“Kenya expresses its strong willingness to collaborate with partners to ensure the country remains ahead in the proactive fight against online criminal networks,” Murkomen said.
A new international front against cybercrime
The alliance was established to improve cooperation among governments and law enforcement agencies dealing with transnational telecommunications and cyber fraud.
The inaugural conference brought together representatives from 46 founding countries, 34 observer countries and four international organisations, including the United Nations and Interpol. China initiated the alliance as an intergovernmental platform focused on coordinated action against cross-border telecom and cyber-related crimes.
For Kenya, the framework provides an additional avenue for sharing information, supporting investigations and pursuing criminal networks that operate across jurisdictions.
Murkomen said cooperation was particularly important because cyber-enabled offences can involve victims, suspects, financial accounts and digital infrastructure located in different countries.
He also stressed that efforts to combat cybercrime must respect national sovereignty, human rights and the rule of law.
“We believe that such a framework should promote the responsible use of technology while respecting national sovereignty, human rights, and the rule of law,” he said.
Why SIM-swap fraud remains a concern
The push for stronger cooperation comes as Kenyan authorities continue to investigate sophisticated mobile-money and SIM-related fraud cases.
In July, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations announced the arrest of eight suspects over an alleged SIM-swap scheme in Marsabit in which more than KSh1.2 million was reportedly stolen from an M-Pesa operator.
According to the DCI, the suspects allegedly posed as customers at an M-Pesa shop before deceiving the operator and swapping the SIM card. Investigators said the swap enabled unauthorised access to the complainant’s bank account, resulting in the alleged theft.
The case illustrates how criminals can combine social engineering with access to telecommunications services to target financial accounts.
Kenya-China security cooperation expands
The cybercrime partnership comes within a broader expansion of security cooperation between Nairobi and Beijing.
Kenya and China agreed in 2025 to strengthen cooperation in areas including counterterrorism, law enforcement, personnel training, joint exercises and the fight against transnational crimes such as telecom fraud and cybercrime.
Murkomen said Kenya would continue working with China, governments, law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to strengthen its capacity against emerging digital threats.
The government’s participation in the new alliance signals a shift towards greater international coordination as fraudsters increasingly operate beyond national borders.
For Kenyan consumers and businesses, the effectiveness of the partnership will ultimately depend on how quickly intelligence can be shared, suspicious transactions traced and offenders pursued across jurisdictions.
