Government commits to safeguard citizens’ data privacy and promote innovation

EVALYNE GITHINJI-PCO

The Government has reaffirmed its com mitment to safeguarding citizens’ privacy, advancing digital infrastructure, and pro moting innovation as key pillars of the country’s digital transfor mation agenda.

This pledge was made during the Annual Data Privacy Conference convened by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to commemorate Data Privacy Day 2025.

The event, held under the theme “Safeguarding Personal Data to Spur Digital Transfor mation & Economic Develop ment,” brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors to discuss the critical role of data protec tion in driving Kenya’s digital economy.

Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, who was the Chief Guest at the conference, emphasized that protecting per sonal data is not just a regulatory obligation but a fundamental enabler of digital transformation and economic growth.

“Data is often referred to as the ‘new oil,’ making its pro tection vital in combating fraud, cyberterrorism, and other mali cious activities,” said Hon. Kabogo.

“It is imperative for both public and private organizations to comply with data protection laws to serve the public inter est and foster trust in the digital ecosystem," he added.

The CS highlighted that this year’s conference theme underscores the need for a holistic approach to data protection, in tegrating privacy considerations into everyday practices rather than treating them as isolated issues.

“Building trust in the digital age requires a strong emphasis on emerging technology as surances, such as data privacy, AI ethics, mobile security, and cybersecurity,” he stated.

“This includes implementing data protection by design and by de fault, ensuring that privacy is embedded into the very fabric of our digital systems.” Hon. Kabogo explained that while data processing drives innovation, data handlers must strike a balance between lever aging data for development and protecting user privacy.

“Data-driven innovations have the potential to transform lives and create substantial benefits for society and businesses. How ever, these benefits come with risks concerning data safety and privacy, which must be ad dressed proactively,” he added.

The CS pointed out that Ken ya’s Data Protection Act, No. 24 of 2019, is a robust framework that aligns with international standards, including the Ma labo Convention and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The Act regulates the processing of personal data, establishes the rights of data subjects, and outlines the obligations of data controllers and processors.

“The provisions of the Act are broad and well-intentioned, encompassing foundational principles such as lawfulness, fairness, transparency, accuracy, confidentiality, and accountability,” said Hon. Kabogo.

“Compliance with data protection should not be reduced to a box-ticking exercise. Instead, it should focus on safe guarding data subjects’ personal information and preserving their privacy.”

He emphasized that product design, business practices, and operations must prioritize end users to enhance interactions and build trust. “In the digital age, data handlers bear an in creasing responsibility to protect stakeholders’ interests and build confidence in digital products,” he noted.

Kabogo called upon all stakeholders to adopt a culture of data protection by design and default, consistently applying data protection principles in their operations.

He also urged organizations to register as data controllers, processors, or both with the ODPC to ensure com pliance and maintain their rep utation.

“Registration with the ODPC is not just a legal requirement but a demonstration of an or ganization’s commitment to data protection and accounta bility,” he said.

“It is a critical step in building public trust and ensuring that personal data is handled responsibly.”

The CS also highlighted the government’s efforts to advance the Digital Superhighway pillar, which aims to create a robust digital infrastructure that con nects people, businesses, and government services.

He noted that the Digital Superhighway is a key enabler of Kenya’s Bot tom-Up Economic Transfor mation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to leverage technology to uplift lives and drive inclusive economic growth.

“The Digital Superhighway is not just about connectivity; it is about creating opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and social development,” said Hon. Kabogo.

“By safeguarding personal data and promoting trust in the digital ecosystem, we are laying the foundation for a prosperous and inclusive digi tal economy.”

The conference concluded with a reaffirmation of the gov ernment’s commitment to fos tering a secure and innovative digital environment. Hon. Kabogo emphasized that data pro tection is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration be tween the government, private sector, and citizens.

“As we commemorate Data Privacy Day, let us remember that safeguarding personal data is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative,” he said.

“By working together, we can build a digital economy that is inclu sive, innovative, and trustwor thy—one that transforms lives and drives Kenya’s prosperity.”

Data as the New Oil: Protect ing personal data is crucial for combating fraud, cyberterror ism, and other malicious activities.

Holistic Approach to Privacy: Data protection must be inte grated into everyday practices, not treated as an isolated issue. Balancing Innovation and Privacy: Data handlers must balance the benefits of data-driven development with the need to protect user privacy.

Compliance with the Data Protection Act: Organizations must prioritize safeguarding personal information and pre serving privacy to build trust. Digital Superhighway and BETA: The government’s digital infrastructure initiatives are key to driving inclusive economic growth and innovation.