Kenya presidency website restricted after reported cyberattack

Kenya temporarily restricted access to the presidency's website on Saturday after local media reported a cyberattack that included a ransom demand.

The reports said hackers changed the site's homepage with messages critical of President William Ruto. They also reportedly demanded five bitcoins, worth about $325,000, and threatened to release unspecified information unless they were paid.

Information Minister William Kabogo Gitau acknowledged an incident affecting the website but did not describe it as a hack. He said access to the presidential website was temporarily restricted for containment, forensic analysis and restoration work.

An AFP journalist found the site inaccessible on Saturday. Gitau said there was no evidence that sensitive government data had been accessed or stolen, and said state digital systems remained secure and operational.

The incident follows cyberattacks that targeted several Kenyan ministers months earlier. Interpol said last year that Kenya had recorded more than 12,000 cyberattacks or attempted attacks, among the highest totals in Africa.