The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has issued a security alert after its official social media accounts were hacked on Sunday, February 9. Before authorities regained control, the cyber-attack briefly compromised the DCI’s digital platforms, including Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). In a statement, the DCI confirmed the incident, stating, “For some moment this evening, we experienced a cyber-attack on the DCI digital platforms (X and Facebook), but have since regained full control.”
During unauthorized access, cybercriminals used the accounts to post misleading information, including fraudulent messages promoting cryptocurrency and digital tokens.
The DCI clarified that these messages were entirely fabricated. “During the short period, the cyber criminals who attempted to take over the accounts posted the information captured in the screenshot below. Note: The information is therefore FAKE and not from the DCI.
The statement added that a scrupulous interrogation into the criminal activity has been activated to bring the perpetrators to justice. This incident follows similar breaches affecting Kenyan media houses. Just a week ago, the X accounts of both KBC and K24 TV were hacked.
KBC’s account, which has over 800,000 followers, was compromised on Friday, January 31. Hackers rebranded the account to DeepSeek AI.
Dci’s swift response after hack
This led to unauthorized posts promoting cryptocurrency scams.
Similarly, on Thursday, February 6, K24 TV’s X account, which boasts over 3 million followers, was hacked. The hackers transformed the account into a Beyoncé fan page and used it to disseminate cryptocurrency schemes. The DCI’s quick response aims to caution Kenyans against falling victim to such fraudulent schemes and assure them that steps are being taken to prevent future incidents.
The agency has launched a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend the perpetrators behind the attack. The breach has sparked widespread debate online, with Kenyans questioning the cybersecurity measures in place for government agencies. One X user commented, “Kumbe shida hadi sio DCI.
Shida ni sisi kuji-limit.” (So, the problem isn’t even the DCI—the problem is us limiting ourselves.) Another warned, “This is a wake-up call. If an agency like the DCI can be attacked, what about an ordinary person? Today, the biggest crime might not be physical—it’s in cyberspace.”
The incident highlights the increasing threat of cybercrime in Kenya and raises concerns about the security of official government platforms.
While the DCI has reassured the public that the situation is under control, questions remain about the full extent of the attack and whether any financial losses were incurred.
