Makueni County Commissioner Khalif Abdulahi has called on the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to intensify public awareness on the protection of personal data among residents of the county.
Speaking at Wote Technical Training Institute during a one-day data sensitization forum on Friday, Abdulahi engaged boda boda riders, chiefs, departmental heads, women leaders and village elders on the importance of safeguarding personal information in the digital era.
He noted that increasing technological advancement has exposed citizens to greater risks, making public education on data privacy and security more urgent.
The county commissioner said there is a need for stronger policy enforcement and compliance to ensure effective protection of personal data across all sectors.
“Data protection is very crucial, and there is a need to increase public awareness to educate citizens on how to share information responsibly,” he said.
He further pointed to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing, warning that they have increased risks of data misuse, including hacking of mobile phones, unsolicited marketing messages, and misuse of biometric information.
“Criminals hack phones, send unsolicited messages, and misuse biometric data. Citizens must be sensitized accordingly,” he added.
Abdulahi urged members of the public to understand their data protection rights, how to responsibly share personal information, and the procedures for lodging complaints in cases of misuse.
Participants were taken through the legal framework provided under the Data Protection Act, 2019, including provisions on personal data protection and children’s rights.
The forum brought together civil society organizations, clergy, youth groups, persons with disabilities and women representatives.
By Patrick Nyakundi
