Kabogo vows to strengthen data protection laws amid concerns over privacy breaches

ICT Cabinet Secretary nominee William Kabogo has addressed concerns about the protection of personal data, particularly in light of recent claims that private information, such as phone numbers, was being harvested and shared with government agencies like the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).

During his vetting on Tuesday, Kabogo firmly stated that if such activities were occurring, they would be illegal. He clarified that any unauthorised access or misuse of personal data, including hacking, is against the law and must be strictly addressed.

"I understand the concerns about data being harvested. If you listen to social media, you'll see people alleging that Safaricom has released individuals' phone numbers to the Kenya Revenue Authority. I want to make it clear that if such actions occur, they are illegal. We have laws in place to protect data," stated Kabogo.

Kabogo acknowledged the seriousness of data privacy issues, noting that breaches of personal information can pose significant threats not only to individuals but also to families and the wider society.

Safaricom, Kenya's largest telecommunications company, has faced allegations regarding the leakage of personal information of its customers.

The claims mainly revolve around accusations that Safaricom shares its users' private data, such as phone numbers and other personal details, with government agencies like KRA and other third parties, without proper consent or transparency.

Many Kenyans argue that more robust safeguards are needed to ensure their personal information is not exposed or exploited, particularly given the increasing reliance on mobile services for banking, communication, and other essential services.

Responding to the concerns surrounding data harvesting, Kabogo pointed out that sharing personal information would only be justified in cases of security threats.

However, he emphasised that such situations should be carefully managed and in line with the law.

"I want to reliably believe that only a security threat would cause sharing of data but I would want to be the one that makes sure that private and personal data is protected by government if I were to be nominated," said the CS nominee.

Kabogo emphasised the importance of fostering dialogue between various parties, both online and offline, as well as in forums like Parliament.

He advocated for the creation of public portals to facilitate discussions on data security and data protection, highlighting the need for continuous conversation and transparency in these areas.

If appointed, he promised to lead efforts to protect citizens' data from misuse and ensure that Kenya remains compliant with international data protection standards.