NAIROBI: The Central Bank of Kenya announced that it will now start monitoring mobile money transfer to ensure the platforms are secured from cyber criminals. Communications PS, Bitange Ndemo stated: “There are growing cases of hacking into systems. We fear that mobile money could be a major target but we don't want to act too late.” According to the PS, the new measures would enable CBK to conduct annual reviews of all transactions to ensure the systems are not abused. He added that the government was looking into other regulatory framework to prevent cases of hacking. Orange Kenya Head of Communications Angela Mumo said Orange Money transacted over Sh50 million in the first month of its launch late2010, but the figure could now be much higher. Speaking during the conference, Tavneet Suri from MIT called on the government to ensure it had a reliable backroom system to protect online services. Suri added: “Kenyans are now able to pay for their utilities through mobile platforms as a result of players in the private sector investing in reliable systems.” She called upon the government to create institutions that protect knowledge to encourage Kenyans to develop innovative mobile money applications.
