NAIROBI, Kenya July 17 -Deputy Data Commissioner Oscar Otieno issued keynote remarks during the DataFest Africa24 hosted by AgaKhan University and Pollicy themed: Opportunities for all: Harnessing Data and Technology for Africa’s Transformation
In his remarks, he acknowledged the importance of data and technology in achieving Kenya’s strategic goals and promoting solutions to development challenges.
“It is with no doubt that data is a key tool which has helped address complex challenges in the field of healthcare, agriculture, climate change and fostering inclusive economic growth. These data-driven solutions have the potential to transform the lives of millions of Africans,” he said.
Nonetheless, he emphasized the need to ensure data processing activities are carried out within the confines of the data protection laws noting the enactment of the law in many African jurisdictions.
“Effective implementation and enforcement of DPAs are crucial to ensuring the success of data protection efforts. Stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, such as government, civil society, donors, academics, students, and private industry experts must work together to raise awareness, provide guidance, and enforce compliance with data laws,” he said.
He affirmed ODPC’s role in ensuring that personal information is handled responsibly and ethically by organizations in order to build trust in the data ecosystem and promoting the sustainable development of data-driven initiatives across the continent.
“Unregulated use of emerging technologies poses new challenges and risks to our personal data and has a serious potential of creating harm and this is why the Data Protection Law was enacted in Kenya to create order in the use of personal data,” he said.
He acknowledged that the main challenge faced in harmonization of the laws is the fact that most countries are at different stages of implementation further calling for African countries to adopt bilateral agreements as part of knowledge exchange and also leverage on existing economic blocs to folster harmonization of data protection laws.