By Valarie Waswa
Each year on January 28th, the world comes together to mark International Privacy Day, and Kenya is no exception. This year’s theme, “Safeguarding Personal Data to Spur Digital Transformation and Economic Development,” set the stage for an engaging and insightful Annual Privacy Day Conference hosted by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
The two-day event held on 27-28 January was a vibrant celebration of progress, collaboration, and innovation in data protection in Kenya. 2025 marks the sixth year since the enactment of the Data Protection Act No. 24 of 2019, and five years since the setting up of the ODPC.
KICTANet played a key role in the conference as one of the sponsors and exhibitors showcasing its work in ICT research and policy advocacy. At its booth, the KICTANet team engaged participants, explaining the organisation’s work in fostering human-centered ICT policies, and highlighted its multi-stakeholder approach in advancing digital resilience and data protection.
Building a Culture of Data Privacy: Dr. Grace Githaiga’s Panel Insights
KICTANet CEO, Dr. Grace Githaiga, kicked off the first day of the conference as a conversation leader on the panel session titled “Building a Data Privacy Culture: Empowering Individuals to Protect their Personal Data.”
She underscored the vital role of digital literacy programs in empowering individuals to navigate the digital era safely and confidently. She also highlighted KICTANet’s “Strengthening Digital Communities” project, supported by the UK Government’s Digital Access Programme through the British High Commission in Nairobi, which aims to enhance digital skills and access across the country by training 10,000 Community Digital Champions (CDCs) in Busia and Mandera County. The CDCs are in turn expected to cascade their knowledge to 500,000 citizens through direct engagement. This effort contributes to Kenya’s goal of achieving 20 million digitally literate citizens by 2027.
Dr. Githaiga also touched on emerging trends in Kenya’s tech space regarding personal empowerment and data privacy. She noted that there was growing awareness of privacy rights evident with more individuals actively seeking ways to protect their personal data. Further, she commended how civil society organizations were stepping up, and collaborating to educate the public and in advocating for stronger privacy protections.
She further noted a rising demand for transparency from both government and private sector players regarding how they collect and use data. However, gaps remain in rural and marginalized areas, where digital literacy is lower, and compliance issues persist, particularly in public sector agencies.
KICTANet’s Role in Addressing Privacy Challenges
KICTANet understands the power of collaboration in solving complex privacy challenges. Here’s how it is fostering partnerships and advancing privacy advocacy:
- Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues: It regularly hosts roundtables and policy discussions to bring together diverse stakeholders—government officials, industry leaders, civil society, and academia—to tackle privacy and cybersecurity issues.
- Capacity Building: From training 10,000 community champions in Mandera and Busia on digital skills (including data protection) to supporting journalists, human rights defenders, and women through the Tatua Digital Resilience Centre, we’re building a strong foundation for privacy and security.
- Policy Advocacy: We actively engage in submitting memorandums and public comments on key privacy-related bills, policies, and legislation. Examples include our input on the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Rules, the Digital Health Act Rules , and other critical frameworks shaping Kenya’s data governance landscape.
- Collaborations: We’ve worked with partners like the UK government, GIZ, AU-DPF, and ODPC to enhance compliance with data protection laws, produce impactful research, and celebrate milestones like the fifth anniversary of Kenya’s Data Protection Act.
Day Two: A Call to Action for Inclusive Digital Transformation
The second day of the conference was graced by notable dignitaries, including Uasin Gishu Governor Dr. Jonathan Bii, CEC Youth Affairs, Sports, ICT and Innovation Uasin Gishu County – Eng. Lucy Ngendo Njoroge, CS for ICT and the Digital Economy – Hon. William Kabogo, and EU Ambassador to Kenya – Henriette Geiger.They visited the KICTANet booth and learned about our efforts to catalyze human-centered and rights-based ICT policies.
The keynote speeches emphasized:
- The need for greater awareness of the Data Protection Act, particularly the rights of data subjects and the obligations of data controllers and processors.
- The importance of involving youth, the largest percentage of data subjects, in advocacy efforts for data privacy and digital transformation.
- The need to deepen and diversify multi-stakeholder engagement to ensure sustainable and inclusive approaches to protecting personal data.
Recommendations for Stronger Data Protection in Kenya
As we reflected on the conference, key recommendations stood out for strengthening Kenya’s data protection landscape:
- Enhance the independence and resources of the ODPC to improve enforcement capabilities.
- Develop a national data governance framework addressing interoperability, data classification, and security.
- Launch public awareness campaigns to educate citizens, businesses, and government entities about their rights and responsibilities.
- Build the capacity of high-risk government agencies to improve compliance with the Data Protection Act.
Moving Forward: Join Us in Shaping the Future
The Annual Privacy Day Conference 2025 was more than an event; it was a rallying call for action. At KICTANet, we remain committed to ensuring that ICT policies are inclusive, transparent, and human rights-based. As we continue to advance digital literacy, foster partnerships, and advocate for privacy rights, we invite all stakeholders to join us in building a safer, more trusted digital environment.
Let’s work together to empower individuals, spur digital transformation, and drive economic development—because privacy is not just a right; it’s the foundation of a thriving digital future.
Ms. Valarie Waswa is a Legal Fellow and a Gender Digital Rights Advocate at KICTANet
