Day: June 15, 2023

Baringo County Commissioner Mr. Stephen Kutwa has called upon the Office of Data Protection Commissioner to cascade awareness creation to the grassroots level for wananchi to understand and appreciate the use of digital tools.

The CC said that it was imperative to mount sustained capacity building for citizens on the contents of the enacted Data Protection Act of 2019 as the government geared towards digitizing and automating its services.

Speaking at a Kabarnet hotel on Wednesday when he officially opened a one-day sensitization workshop on Personal Data Protection, Kutwa underscored the critical role played by digital platforms in delivery of quality services to wananchi as the country joins the global community in embracing digital economy.

‘The government is moving towards e-citizenship where its services will be digitized. Kenya Kwanza administration has committed itself to digitize over 5000 services and therefore there is need for proper understanding of the importance to protect the right to privacy of the consumer,’ he restated.

In the workshop attended by officers from both national and county governments, business community, faith based organizations, boda boda operators, media and general public, the administrator said there is a need to identify gaps on how to effectively apply the enacted law and regulation in a secure environment for personal data.

He challenged the office of data protection commission to sustain efforts in educating and assuring the public that the personal information they provide to data controllers and processors are secure to avoid identity theft and other forms of abuse like fraud.

‘Digital platforms are increasing day by day as a major source of job opportunities and therefore it is urgent for citizens to become computer literate to be able to access these services,’ he observed.

Kutwa lauded the Data Protection Commission for coming up with public sensitization forums targeting people from across all the 47 counties saying that it is a great milestone that will empower every Kenyan to know his or her rights over their personal data.

Baringo County Executive Committee Member (CECM) member for Devolution and Public Service Penninah Bartuin making her address on Wednesday at a Kabarnet hotel in Baringo during a one day public sensitization forum on personal data protection. Photos by Vincent Miningwo

The CC noted that the Data Protection Act 2019 was critical for every Kenyan and thereby citizens who have gotten the opportunity to be sensitized should pass the same information to those who have not been reached.

Governor Benjamin Cheboi in a speech read on his behalf by his CECM for Devolution and Public Service Penninah Bartuin challenged the participants to not only understand the legal provisions in the data protection act but also see to it that they identify how to effectively apply the law in their day-to-day lives.

Cheboi encouraged data controllers and processors within the county to embrace, be passionate and champion for a secure environment for personal data to help in complying and building trust among the people they are serving.

He urged the Office of Data Protection Commissioner to step up the efforts they have started in creating awareness on the relatively new piece of important legislation.

The governor pleaded with the commission to particularly focus on those who are carrying out capacity building of data handling staff and also on the establishment of internal structures and mechanisms that will drive data protection agenda within county governments and other data handling and processing institutions.

He assured the commission of the administration’s support in activities of data protection to facilitate in achieving set goals which will also be of great importance to devolved units.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The countrywide sensitisation campaign spearheaded by the office of the Data Protection Commissioner on Data Privacy and Protection Act (DPA) 2019 has entered its second phase to create awareness and ensure effective implementation and enforcement of the law.

The campaign that targets data controllers, processors and the general public has so far covered 17 counties out of 47 and intends to complete the remaining counties before the end of June this year.

Among the counties to be visited during the second phase are Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale in the coastal region.

The Data Protection Act that was enacted in 2019 seeks to protect the privacy of individual and Personal data by regulating the processing of personal information by data controllers and processors.

The commission is also engaging some critical stakeholders in a collaborative effort to step up public education on the need to protect personal data and monitor the compliance status of digital Controllers and Processors.

This is the first-ever campaign in Kenya dedicated to the topic of personal privacy and data protection and it also aims at raising awareness about the responsibilities of public authorities and private companies in collecting and storing personal data.

During the campaign forum in Mombasa on Wednesday, stakeholders lauded the commission for spearheading public education on data protection.

The key speakers at the Mombasa event agreed on the necessity to further work on awareness regarding the importance of personal data protection in today’s digital era.

Led by Mombasa County commissioner (CC) Abdirasack Jaldesa the speakers said the on-going campaign by the Data Commission will help citizens to know their rights and reduce cases of data breaches or privacy violations.

‘We need strong laws to enhance digital security systems against the growing threat of data violation, ‘said Jaldesa in a speech read on his behalf by Assistant County Commissioner Irene Musyoki at Darajani Hotel.

The County Commissioner said there is a need to develop strategies for the safety and security of data collected by the government, corporate organizations and other entities.

He noted that the government is one of the biggest collectors of personal data for the purpose of improving efficiency in the delivery of public services saying the information provided must be safeguarded.

‘The digital superhighway and creative economy is a key agenda of the government that will see over 5000 services being digitized hence there is need to put in place safeguards that will protect personal data,’ added Jaldesa.

‘Safeguarding the right to personal data protection is a challenge in view of the unprecedented global technological developments that have led to an abundance of personal data available online becoming one of the key resources of modern economies,’ said Jaldesa.

He went on ‘That is why Kenya is committed to encourage, facilitate and, where appropriate, support practical co-operation in the field of access to information and the protection of privacy,’ he said.

A participant during the forum, Hamad Ali Lenguri welcomed the sensitisation campaign saying the Public needs to be protected from the escalating rate of cyber-crime.

Lenguri who is a founder of Lavishat Youth Initiative in Mombasa said the commission should focus more on the safety of data collected and how the same is used by the private entities.

‘The sensitisation forums to create awareness on data protection come at the time when the government and private organizations use digital technology to promote transparent and effective delivery of services,’ added the youth leader.

He further said that individual privacy is a fundamental right protected by the constitution and welcomed the efforts by the Office of the Data Commissioner in protecting the same from online predators.

‘Citizens’ rights are most often violated by using their personal data without legal grounds or their consent contrary to the intended purpose,’ said Lenguri

Speaking during the maiden edition of the sensitization forums in Machakos County, Data Protection Commissioner Immaculate Kassait said Kenya seeks to be exemplary in informing the public about the value of data protection.

‘The public is increasingly becoming aware of the importance of protecting personal data which is the first step towards a fully protected country,’ she said.

Kassait says since the creation of her office they have embarked on strategic engagements and consultations with critical stakeholders in a bid to raise awareness on data protection and privacy in the country.

‘We are focused on sensitising data subjects about their rights since data privacy and protection occupy a unique place in every facet of our lives and livelihoods,’ said the data commissioner.

She also noted that the ongoing-campaign to visit all the counties will ultimately raise citizens’ awareness on personal data protection.

‘As we seek to enforce the law on data privacy and data protection we don’t want to see a scenario where citizens struggle to fully understand their rights in the area of personal data protection’ she said adding that the on-going public campaign is just a part of the broader activities aimed at strengthening the protection of personal data in the country.

She revealed that citizens should be aware that their right to protection of personal data is guaranteed by the Data Privacy and Protection Act (DPA) 2019 that strictly prescribes how their personal data should be processed once collected by authorized institutions.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Ethiopia has surpassed the bold commitments it made at the first Global Refugee Forum (GRF) to improve the lives of refugees and host communities in the country, according to the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS).

This was disclosed today at a national stakeholder workshop organized to take stoke of processes, best practices, challenges and supports, and future engagements that will be tabled in December 2023 at the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) high level meeting in Geneva.

At the first Global Refugee Forum (GRF) in 2019, Ethiopia has made ambitious pledges to enhance protection and solutions for refugees and host communities. The pledges included job and livelihoods, education, protection/capacity, and energy/environment, it was learned.

In his opening remark to the workshop, Refugees and Returnees Service Director-General Tesfahun Gobezay said that 76 percent of refugees are hosted in developing countries where resources are scarce, service and infrastructure are lacking in meeting the need of those seeking refugee.

“Ethiopia is no exception to this harsh reality. It has (however) consistently showed solidarity towards those who seek refugees in its borders.”

According to him, the country has remained steadfast to its promises in ensuring reception and hosting of asylum seekers during both times of peace and stability as well as during periods marked by challenges and misfortunes.

As one of the primary refugee hosting countries globally, Ethiopia has been playing a pivotal leadership role during the preparatory phase at the forum itself based on its convening role in the first Global Refugee Forum.

At the event the nation announced more commitments in the areas of jobs, livelihood, education and protection as well as energy and environment, the director-general recalled.

With Ethiopia’s determination to revamp its promises and the firm commitment and collective efforts of the government as well as development partners and donors, we have achieved good results in all areas, he added.

“So far Ethiopia has made significant progress in creating a favorable environment for refugees by implementing directives that align with its progressive refugee proclamation ratified in 2019. We have managed to create economic opportunities for more than 100,000 refugees and members of the communities hosting them. Besides, over 11,900 individuals from the refugees and host communities benefited from quality and accredited skills training.”

Tesfahun noted that the finding of this workshop will provide crucial support to RRS and UNHCR and other relevant stakeholders at national level.

“It will enable us to capitalize on key achievements by identifying remaining tasks and address any gaps that need to be filled before December 2023 GRF.”

UNHCR Country Representative, Mamadou Balde said on his part that Ethiopia has remained generous to refugees despite all the internal and external challenges.

Since January 2023 we have got two emergencies in this country, close to 100,000 refugees were received from February 2023 in the Somali region coming from Laascanod, he noted.

The representative added that since February to April 2023, we have got the situation in Sudan and refugees have been coming through; and very unfortunately, if there is no peace we will keep having more and more refugees coming here.

“If there is no peace, we might receive many more refugees, adding to the 50,000 Sudanese refugees we already host in the Benishangul-Gumuz.”

According to Balde, Ethiopia has been at the forefront of the rolling out of the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework and the innovative policies as well as the way we are responding to the new arrival is solution from the start.

Representatives from ministries, UN agencies, embassies, donors and humanitarian/ development partners that are supporting the refugee response in Ethiopia have attended the workshop.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency