Kenya Restores Presidential Website After Bitcoin Ransom Attack

The Government of Kenya restored the official website of the presidency, president.go.ke, on July 19, 2026, following a cyberattack that caused nearly a day of disruption. Hackers defaced the homepage on July 18, replacing official content with insults directed at President William Ruto and a demand for five bitcoins, valued at approximately $320,000 to $325,000.

William Kabogo Gitau, the ICT Cabinet Secretary, restricted access to the site as a precautionary measure to facilitate containment, forensic analysis, and restoration. The attackers threatened to leak unspecified information about the president if the ransom was not paid by 6:00 p.m. local time on Saturday.

Gitau stated there was no evidence that sensitive government data was stolen or exfiltrated, maintaining that state digital systems remained secure. Authorities have not disclosed the method of entry or whether the ransom demand was considered, and no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

The attack occurs amid a significant surge in digital threats within the country. Interpol reported over 12,000 cyberattacks or attempts in Kenya last year, while the National Computer and Cybercrime Coordination Committee reported 3 billion attacks in early 2026.