The affected websites belonged to important ministries and state agencies that provide daily services to millions of Kenyans.
The attack caused panic and frustration as citizens struggled to access the platforms they normally use for information, services, and official documents.
According to early reports, the websites for the Ministries of Health, Education, Labour, Environment, ICT, Tourism, and Interior were among those taken down.
The official State House website was also disrupted. When users tried to open these pages, they found that the sites had been defaced.
The hackers had changed the appearance of the websites and replaced normal content with strange and disturbing messages.
Some of the messages read, “Access denied by PCP”, “We will rise again”, “White power worldwide”, and “14:88 Heil Hitler.”
These words suggested that the attackers were trying to send an extremist message while causing confusion among the public.
In addition to the ministries, other government bodies also experienced downtime. The Immigration Department website was not reachable, affecting Kenyans who depend on it for passport and visa services.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) website also went offline, raising concerns since it is an important platform used by police and citizens.
The Directorate of Public-Private Partnerships and the State House portal were also affected, creating even more worry about the scale of the attack.
The disruptions did not stop there. Services such as the Hustler Fund platform, the Government Press website, and Nairobi County’s online systems also went down.
Many Kenyans who rely on these services felt confused and frustrated as they could not complete their normal tasks.
Some needed to check important information, while others were trying to access essential services.
With the websites down, they were forced to wait without clear communication from the government.
Not all ministries, however, were affected. A quick check done by reporters showed that the Ministries of Defence and Treasury were still functioning normally.
This created questions about how the hackers selected their targets and why some systems remained untouched.
At the time of the incident, government spokespeople and the affected agencies had not yet issued any official statements.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility from any group, leaving many wondering who was behind the attack.
Cybersecurity experts suggested that the attack was likely planned and carried out by a group with advanced skills, given the number of websites affected at the same time.
This is not the first time Kenya’s government systems have been targeted. In 2023, a Sudanese hacker group claimed responsibility for a cyberattack that brought down several government portals, including eCitizen.
At that time, the group claimed the attack was a protest against what they said was Kenya’s interference in Sudan’s internal affairs.
Although they did not provide proof, the incident raised concerns about the country’s cybersecurity preparedness.
During the latest attack, some essential services such as eCitizen, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), the Judiciary website, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), and the National Police Service were still running normally.
This gave some relief, especially for those who needed urgent services from these institutions.
The latest attack has raised fresh concerns about Kenya’s ability to protect its digital systems.
Many citizens now want the government to strengthen online security to prevent future attacks.
Cybersecurity experts say the government must invest more in modern systems, regular security checks, and intelligence monitoring to keep hackers away.
For now, Kenyans wait for official communication explaining what happened, who was behind the attack, and what steps the government will take to restore trust in its digital services.
The cyberattack has shown how important strong online security is in today’s world, where many essential services depend on the internet.
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