Kenya to host General Assembly on Network of African Data Protection Authorities

By Peter Ochieng

Kenya will this year host the General Assembly on Network of African Data Protection Authorities (NADPA), Data Commissioner Immaculate Kassait has announced.

The General Assembly will be held from 7th to 9th May, 2024, in Nairobi.

Speaking in Kisumu on Thursday morning during a media breakfast meeting ahead of Data Protection Day which is celebrated annually on 28th January, Kassait said Kenya successfully won the bid to host the General Assembly, during the 6th Annual General meeting held in Burkinafaso on 11th May 2023.

NADPA comprises several African privacy and data protection authorities, with the main agenda being providing a platform for exchanges and co-operation between its members.

“We are elated that members of NADPA had confident in us and voted to host the next NADPA AGM and to assume the position of the 1st Chair, The ODPC has been in operational for slightly more than three years and has made significant progress in data protection. To be granted such an opportunity is great honor and we want to reaffirms our stance to create a platform for collaboration among members of NADPA,” said Kassait.

She emphasised the vital role of the media in promoting understanding about personal data protection, and the crucial role it has played in disseminating news since the enactment of the Data Protection Act in 2019, and the operationalisation of the Office of the Data Commissioner (ODPC) in 2020.

She said the office has actively registered 3,169 data controllers and data processors. Since the enactment of the Act, Kassait said a total of 4,855 complaints have been received, with 4,769 being successfully resolved.

This year's theme for Data Protection Day is "Fostering a culture of data privacy," with a view of establishing a comprehensive approach to data protection within organisations, communities, and society at large.

David Omwoyo, CEO Media Council of Kenya stated that the country is lucky to have the data protection Act.

He reminded journalists that they cannot operate without data, but it has to be applied responsibly and in relation to the law.

Since 28th January will be Sunday, ODPC will lead Kenyans in marking Data Protection Day on Friday, 26th January, 2024 at the Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu.

The event will be presided over by Cabinet Secretary (CS) for ICT and the Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, who will then launch ODPC regional office in Kisumu.