The government has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with African countries in developing policies and laws aimed at enhancing data protection within the region.
Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications and the Digital Economy Eliud Owalo underscored the significance of the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) in amplifying data protection issues in the region, saying that it plays a pivotal step towards fostering unity across Africa by providing a platform for collective discourse on data governance frameworks.
The CS who spoke at the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) Conference at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Kiambu County said the meeting would aid in boosting the harmonisation of laws and policies on a global scale, and further recognised the progress made in data governance while acknowledging the challenges across the continent.
He stressed the importance of fortifying the data governance framework through the establishment of coherent laws and policies, saying it will aid in facilitating a seamless cross-border data transfer while at the same time elevating standards of data privacy and protection.
“Bridging the gaps in data governance from a continental viewpoint is essential. By implementing a unified governance framework for data management, we can strengthen our position in the global market by effectively managing data flows”, he said during the Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA) Conference at the Windsor Golf Hotel.
Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court Martha Koome termed data as an important aspect of the decision-making process as it reinforces evidence.
“We are in an era where we're pursuing data-informed and evidence-based decision-making. The collection and usage of data present incredible opportunities to improve governance, track service delivery and seek accountability”, she said.
Speaking at a session on building a safe and trusted digital space for children, Media Council of Kenya CEO David Omwoyo called for the adoption of age-appropriate measures in a bid to enhance children’s online safety.
“The biggest mistake we make when discussing child online protection is to assume that creating a safe digital environment means preventing them from going online. Instead, we should adopt age-appropriate standards that cater to the diverse needs of children online therefore creating a child-friendly digital environment”, he noted.
He reiterated the need to create awareness among caregivers, adding that this would be key in helping them understand their consensual role regarding children’s internet access.
Mr Omwoyo also referred to results from the recently launched State of the Media Report 2023, which revealed that only a fraction of Kenyans understood the issues around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and called for civic education through a multiagency approach.
“Our recent study showed that only 21% percent of Kenyans understand issues around AI. We need a comprehensive multi-agency approach to tackle issues on the use of AI instead of working as independent entities”, he noted.
Kenya’s Data Commissioner Immaculate Kassait said the conference aimed to provide a networking and knowledge exchange platform for peers in Africa’s digital transformation journey and data governance frameworks.
“The conference aims at facilitating the sharing of knowledge and experiences among African data protection authorities to strengthen the implementation of robust data protection frameworks”, said Ms Kassait.