AFRICA ( commonwealth union ) _ The Chinese embassy in Kenya has refuted the allegations made in a Reuters report that claimed Chinese hackers targeted key government agencies in Nairobi, including the presidency. The alleged objective of these cyber-attacks was to assess Kenya’s ability to repay its debts to China, which amounted to billions of dollars. The report suggested that the cyber-attacks began in 2019 when China started reducing credit lines to Kenya due to concerns about mounting debt.
The relationship between China and Kenya has been the subject of scrutiny in recent years, particularly due to the African nation’s increasing debt burden and allegations of Chinese involvement in cyber-espionage. In a recent development, accusations emerged suggesting that China had hacked into the Kenyan government’s systems, potentially exacerbating Kenya’s debt strain.
However, the Chinese government has vehemently denied these claims, stating that they are baseless and aimed at damaging the China-Kenya partnership. This article provides an overview of the allegations, the denial by China, and the broader context of China-Kenya relations amid concerns over debt and cybersecurity.
In response, the Chinese embassy dismissed the report as “far-fetched and sheer nonsense” in a tweet. The embassy emphasized that hacking is a global threat that affects all countries, including China, which also falls victim to cyber-attacks. It further stated that attributing a cyber-attack to a specific government without solid evidence is a highly sensitive political issue.
The embassy reiterated the strong and respectful bilateral relationship between China and Kenya, describing them as “good friends, good partners, and good brothers.”
According to reports, Kenya has indeed reduced its borrowing from China, and as of March, it owes the country $6.31 billion. However, the Chinese embassy’s response highlights their denial of any involvement in cyber-attacks against Kenyan government agencies and emphasizes the importance of the positive relationship between China and Kenya.
It’s worth noting that allegations of cyber-attacks and hacking are complex issues that often involve sophisticated actors and require thorough investigation to determine the source and motives behind such attacks.
