Hacking claims put Kenya at the centre of US-China cold war

BackdoorDiplomacy, a Chinese state-linked hacking team, allegedly targeted the ministries of defence, information, health, land and interior. [iStockphoto]

On February 3, 2012, Kenya's Ministry of Interior and National Administration advertised a tender for a project to supply, install and commission a National Surveillance Communication Command system at the National Police Service.

This set off a chain of events with lasting consequences for the country and key bilateral partners.

The funding of the Sh12 billion project was provided through a concessionary loan from the government of the People's Republic of China and the tender was restricted to Chinese firms.