By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The Chief Executive Officer
of the Technopolis Development Authority, John Paul Okwiri, has emphasised the
importance of personal data protection and public trust in Kenya’s digital
transformation, describing them as essential to ensuring that technological
advancement delivers its full potential.
He made the remarks at an
appreciation dinner held in honour of Kenya’s inaugural Data Commissioner,
Madam Immaculate Kassait, in recognition of her six years of dedicated service
and contribution to strengthening data protection in the country.
The event brought together
several government and public-sector leaders, including Hon. John KJ Kiarie,
Member of Parliament for Dagoretti South and Chairperson of the National
Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Communication, Information and Innovation;
Secretary of the ICT Security Directorate Emmanuel Kata; and ICT Authority CEO
Jessy Maruti Kiveu.
Speaking during the
occasion, Mr Okwiri noted that as Kenya accelerates its digital transformation,
protecting personal data and building public trust must remain central to
technological advancement.
He said investments at Konza
Technopolis, Kenya’s flagship smart city, in digital infrastructure, cloud
services through the Konza National Data Centre and innovation are anchored on
the understanding that technology can only deliver its full potential when
people trust the systems behind it.
The appreciation dinner
celebrated Mrs Kassait’s leadership in advancing data privacy awareness,
institutional accountability and the protection of personal information during
her tenure as Kenya’s first Data Commissioner.
The Technopolis Development
Authority congratulated Madam Kassait for laying a strong foundation for data
protection in Kenya and wished her continued success as she embarks on her next
chapter.
