President William Ruto's National Security Advisor Monica Juma on Thursday opened a two-day Nairobi caucus event on Preventing the Exploitation of Technology and Communication for Terrorist Use at Trademark Hotel, Nairobi.
The Nairobi Caucus event began on Thursday, August 3, and is expected to end on Friday, August 4.
The two-day event seeks to create awareness of technological and communication vulnerabilities being exploited by terrorists and violent extremists.
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It will also provide a platform to build partnerships among stakeholders to prevent the exploitation of technology and communications for terrorist use.
Juma, in her speech, called for cooperation among sector players to tame the terrorism threats in this era of technology. She highlighted how social media platforms, the internet, and artificial intelligence are being exploited by terrorists to spread propaganda.
"We must work with people, government, and the technology industry in order for us to detect the gaps in good time," she said.
She called for the need to have policies and frameworks in place that will enhance the effective arresting of terrorist activities.
Juma however emphasised the need to ensure all policies and frameworks are given legal anchorage.
"It is necessary that we evolve domestic policy and legal framework that is versatile and effective. Our reforms must be anchored on the rule of law which is what contrasts us from the violent utopia terrorists seem to create," she said.
"It is imperative they create this policy and legal framework which mark the first victory against terrorism exploitation of technology and communication."
The Participants are set to enhance capacity, disseminate tools, and share expertise to disrupt the terrorist misuse of technology and communication platforms.
The event was organised by the National Counter Terrorism Centre led by the director Rosalind Nyawira in conjunction with the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT), the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), and the Aqaba Process.
Addressing the forum, Dr. Nyawira noted that this was a good opportunity for stakeholders from the region to share expertise and work together to prevent the exploitation of technology by terrorists.
Others present at the event are policy and decision-makers, practitioners, local and international technology companies including infrastructure and service providers, civil society organizations, academia, and the press.
The two-day event will see various speakers address several topics of discussion that will provide solutions to the fight against terrorism.
