Bungoma: National and County staff undergo Data Awareness Training!
-this will assist all relevant stakeholders from incidents of Data Leakages to non –Authorized entities-
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By Achola Bulimo Mathews
The Ministry of Information,Communication,Technology and Digital Economy through the office of Data protection is keen in ensuring that citizens are protected through strengthened Data protection Mechanisms during service delivery .
According to Mr Eugene Odhiambo and Mrs Agnes Mwaurah who are Data protection officers while addressing National ,County Government Officials plus other Non state actors like Civil Socities Organizations Cso’s representatives at Sawan Hotel in Bungoma County during a Data Awareness , Outreach and Training programme, have hinted that this will assist all relevant stakeholders from incidents of Data Leakages to non –Authorized entities cum Persons .
Mr Odhiambo noted that Kenyans have been facing a series of threats from hackers into their Personal Bank Accounts leading to a loss in their finances something that he says that the Data Protection Commissioner with other officers are fast tracking to continue protecting Vulnerable Kenyans from Conmen.
The two also said that it will be a requirement going forward for all entities either Public or the Private sector to register as Data Processors or officers so as to serve their clientele efficiently.
“ That’s why by now the public outcry from Kenyans on Digital lenders frequently calling them in matters loans payment after being listed as Guarantors by the financial institutions without their consent is now athing of the past as all Digital lenders and even Banks have to be given a data protection licence before being given a green light to operate by the Central Bank of Kenya CBK,said Odhiambo .”
The officers have noted that this will go a long way in efficient delivery of government programmes like Social protection for the vulnerable families and elderly plus distribution of subsidized fertilizer products to farmers especially in rural Areas.
The Bungoma South assistant County Commissioner ACC For Kanduyi Division while representing the County Commissioner Mr Thomas Sankei,Mr Omingo Oluoch said that the sensitization is a good initiative from National government Data Protection Directorate as Government officers like Chiefs and their assistants handle a lot of Data like registration of persons for National identification Cards ID’S Hence the need to have the requisite skills to protect the vital information from landing into the custody of unauthorised persons in society according to the Data protection Act of 2019.
His sentiments were echoed by Mr Cyrus Wanyonyi from Bungoma county Government and Bumula Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner DCC Mrs Hadya Abdalla.
This comes at a time when so far Government has managed to digitize a total of 5,000 out of 7,000 Government services as President Dr William Samoei Ruto notes that it intends to digitize all it’s services through the Gava Mkononi application under the E-citizen ,the recent one being the Kenya Open University.
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