Former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has raised concerns over the cost of an apparent attempt to target his iPhone with sophisticated spyware, questioning why public resources would be spent monitoring him while he lives as a private citizen.
Kibicho reacted after receiving an Apple threat notification warning that his iPhone had been targeted by a “mercenary spyware” attack. The notification, shared publicly, stated that Apple had detected an attempt to remotely compromise the device.
Reacting to the alert, the former Interior PS appeared more concerned about the resources that could be involved in the alleged surveillance than the contents of his phone.
“This is a very expensive exercise. Damn expensive. Spare taxpayers’ money,” Kibicho said.
He questioned the motive behind the alleged targeting, maintaining that there was little to gain from accessing his personal device.
“There are no secrets in my phone. I am a private citizen leading a quiet life,” he said.
Kibicho further suggested that anyone interested in speaking to him could simply contact him directly instead of resorting to expensive surveillance methods.
“You could just place a call to me. It costs less than 10 bob,” he remarked.
Apple’s threat notification system is designed to alert individuals who the company believes may have been specifically targeted by highly sophisticated spyware. Apple says such attacks are exceptionally rare and significantly more advanced than ordinary cybercrime or consumer
Kibicho served as Interior Principal Secretary under former President Uhuru Kenyatta and was a key figure in the country’s security administration before leaving government.