Data Protection Commissioner Immaculate Kassait says there is a need for robust data privacy measures in electoral processes as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.

Speaking to reporters on the second day of the annual Data Protection Conference at Pride Inn Paradise Resort in Mombasa, Kassait highlighted several regulatory interventions needed to safeguard citizen data during elections, including comprehensive audits of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Registrar of Political Parties data.

“As a regulator, we have issued guideline for electoral processes and are conducting audits to identify gaps as we move towards elections,” Kassait said.

She highlighted the need for capacity building for electoral institutions remains a priority. The commission disclosed that her office had completed an audit of the Registrar of Political Parties and is providing ongoing capacity-building for data protection compliance.

“We have encouraged political parties to register as data controllers and processors given the significant amount of information they collect from citizens,” she noted.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Chief Executive Officer Agnes Kalekye emphasised the media’s dual responsibility of informing the public and protecting privacy.

“At KBC, we balance two vital roles: informing the public and protecting their privacy. This conference has helped us refine that balance through sharing experiences with IEBC on compliance and working with the Data Protection Office to ensure data security,” Kalekye said.

The KBC chief executive disclosed that the corporation is investing in artificial intelligence tools to verify information from the public, particularly in the era of widespread social media use.

“We are deploying AI tools to verify videos and audio content from the public. As a trusted public institution, we must ensure that information disseminated is verified and authentic to protect the public,” she stated.

Kalekye noted that KBC is also training journalists on handling private data to ensure citizens feel protected when sharing information with the media.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Sitati Reagan