Kenya to Host Data Protection Conference

By Thuku Kariuki

Kenya is set to host the ninth summit of the Network of Data Protection Authorities (NAPDA)- a body co-ordinating data protection policies across 23 African countries-from 7th-10th, May in Nairobi.

Because issues surrounding data are ever-changing ranging from how data is collected; how it is used and transferred; changing laws in individual countries or per international agreements; to how criminals operate to exploit data, besides these, the event promises to address topics such as data security and protecting children.

The summit will also feature discussions on a number of other issues, including navigating the global data privacy landscape; Digital ID systems in Africa; Digital public goods for inclusive development; and the future of digital sovereignty and data governance in Africa.

Attendees will include African data protection authorities, legal experts, private cybersecurity professionals, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry leaders and others.

The conference is set to strengthen the data protection framework of the NAPDA members through establishing partnerships among data protection authorities as well as building cooperation between them and NGOs, civil society groups, the private sector and development partners. It will also aid cross border information sharing and address best practices regarding emerging technologies.

Kenya enacted its Data Protection Act 2019 in November. This was follower by the establishment of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to “regulate the processing of personal data and ensure observance of the rights of data subjects and obligations of data controllers and data processors.”

Since then the ODPC has registered over 5000 data protection organizations and investigated more than 5300 complaints. It has issued 60 enforcement notices and assessed eight penalties.