Kenya to Secure Citizen’s Data with Support from EU, China – CS Owalo

To safeguard the safety of citizens’ data, the government will collaborate with the European Union (EU) and China to achieve its digital transformation agenda.

Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and Digital Economy Eliud Owalo stated that he held two separate meetings with delegates from the EU and China to determine a way forward in attaining digital advancement.

“We are expressing optimism of forging and establishing a joint engagement with the EU to enhance the government’s digital transformation agenda,” he said.

Owalo stated that Kenya is striving to improve its data privacy policy, legal, and regulatory framework.

The CS also stated that this was the first bilateral meeting between Kenya and the EU.

“With the recent cases of breach of data security and rising cases of cybercrime witnessed in the past, we will be willing to benchmark and customize on relevant laws to ring fence data protection through the enactment of appropriate laws and statutes,” he said.

According to the CS, the country has already placed over 5,000 government services on the e-citizen platform and is eager to implement a risk mitigation strategy in the event of a cyber-attack.

Henriette Geiger, the EU Ambassador to Kenya, stated that the EU is willing to help by supporting the digital agenda.

“Kenya is a key partner in digital governance in Africa. It is important to get it right with you so that Kenya could stand as an example for others,” Geiger said.

The meeting was presided over by Hu Heping, Minister of Culture and Tourism, and Zhou Pingjian, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya.