Ruto Appoints Martin Koyabe to Chair National Cybersecurity Agency

President William Ruto has appointed cybersecurity expert Martin Koyabe as the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA) for a three-year term.

Koyabe’s appointment takes effect from Friday, August 21, 2026, according to Gazette Notice Number 13506 issued under the State Corporations (National Cybersecurity Agency) Order, 2026.

The appointment marks a significant step towards operationalising the newly established agency as Kenya moves to strengthen its capacity to address growing cyber threats and protect its expanding digital infrastructure.

Koyabe Brings Cybersecurity Expertise

Before his appointment, Koyabe served as the Founding Partner and Technical Director at Africa Cyber Expertise (ACE), where he was responsible for overseeing the design and delivery of the organisation’s cybersecurity solutions.

He also led the design and quality assurance of ACE’s technical engagements, covering areas such as national cybersecurity assessments, cybersecurity maturity models, strategy development, regulatory advisory and Cybersecurity Capacity Building (CCB) programme design.

His experience in cybersecurity strategy and capacity building is expected to play a key role as the government moves to establish the NCSA as the central institution for coordinating the country’s cybersecurity efforts.

Agency Established to Strengthen Cybersecurity

The government announced plans to establish the National Cybersecurity Agency in December 2025, with the agency expected to help protect citizens’ data, secure government systems and strengthen Kenya’s position as a regional hub for cyber resilience, ICT and the digital economy.

In June 2026, Parliament approved the creation of the agency as a body mandated to coordinate Kenya’s cybersecurity efforts and safeguard the country’s rapidly expanding digital infrastructure.

Following the parliamentary approval, the Ministry of Interior described the move as a major milestone in strengthening Kenya’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to cyber threats.

Ruto Moves to Operationalise NCSA

The appointment of Koyabe now signals the government’s next phase in bringing the National Cybersecurity Agency into operation.

As Kenya’s reliance on digital services continues to grow, the agency is expected to play a central role in strengthening national cyber resilience, coordinating responses to cyber incidents and supporting the protection of critical digital infrastructure.

Koyabe’s three-year tenure will therefore come at a critical time as Kenya seeks to build stronger cybersecurity systems and enhance coordination between government institutions and other stakeholders in the digital economy.