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.
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.
By Joshua Kibet
