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ODPC, Huawei Kenya, ICT Ministry empower Wajir Youth on Safer Internet Day

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As Kenya observed Safer Internet Day (SID) on 10 February, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), in partnership with Huawei Kenya and the Ministry of ICT and the Digital Economy, engaged youth in Wajir County through a four-day Data Privacy and Data Protection training programme.

Held between 9th -12th February, the initiative equipped students with practical skills to protect personal data, navigate online risks and participate responsibly in the digital space, aligned with this year’s SID theme, “Together for a Better Internet.”

The programme brought together 200 students, including first-time internet users, with a focus on empowering girls and young women, who nationally face greater barriers to digital access and skills. Studies show that only 35 percent of women in Kenya use mobile internet compared to 50 percent of men, and for every 100 young men with digital skills, only 65 young women have comparable competencies.

Additionally, the training sought to enhance awareness and understanding of data privacy, data protection, and responsible digital citizenship, in line with Kenya’s Data Protection Act, 2019. Participants were equipped with practical knowledge on personal data rights, safe online behaviour, and ethical handling of information in today’s digital environment.

The programme emphasized the importance of empowering young people with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the digital space safely, particularly as technology adoption continues to grow across the country.

The initiative formed part of Huawei Kenya’s ongoing commitment to digital skills development and the ODPC’s mandate to promote compliance and awareness of data protection laws nationwide.

With girls and young women in frontier counties historically underrepresented in digital literacy, early exposure to online safety and data protection knowledge is critical for their participation in Kenya’s growing digital economy.

The training empowered youth, especially young women, to become digitally confident, reducing vulnerability online while building foundational skills for future economic and entrepreneurial opportunities.

“As more young people come online, especially in regions with growing connectivity, awareness becomes the first layer of protection. Marking Safer Internet Day through direct engagement allowed us to translate rights and responsibilities into practical knowledge,” said Vincent Musyoki, Trainer at the ODPC.

“This collaboration with Huawei Kenya and the Ministry of ICT ensured that every Kenyan understood how to safeguard personal data, reduce exposure to digital harm and seek redress when their rights were violated,” added Musyoki.

For trainees, the training made a tangible difference. Abdimajid Hassan Hussein shared: “I now understand how to protect my personal data and what my rights are online. Learning this during Safer Internet Day showed us that creating a better internet starts with informed and responsible users.”

Muna Hassan, added: “Understanding data protection and online rights is essential for anyone using digital platforms today. This training gave girls and young women the knowledge and confidence to navigate the internet safely.”

Adams Makau, Trainer at Computers for Schools Kenya, underscored the importance of understanding one’s rights and remedies as provided under the data protection laws. He said: “Participants gained a clear understanding of internet safety, data protection principles, and their rights as data subjects. Importantly, they now know how to engage the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner if their personal information is misused.”

The initiative was particularly critical in frontier counties like Wajir, where connectivity is limited and youth, including girls and first-time internet users, face a digital divide.

Early exposure to digital literacy and data protection principles enabled young people to participate safely and responsibly in Kenya’s growing digital economy, which is increasingly mediated by MSMEs, e-commerce platforms, and mobile technology.

With nearly 7.4 million MSMEs employing 14.9 million Kenyans, digital skills and awareness directly influence inclusive economic opportunity, especially for young women who run nearly half of these enterprises but face systemic barriers in financing, markets, and skills.

“Training youth in Wajir was not just about online safety,” said Musyoki. “It is about empowering them to engage in the digital economy, access information, and protect their rights so they can thrive locally and nationally.”

The programme also reflected a broader national priority: bridging the digital divide. As highlighted in national initiatives, half of Kenyans remain offline, leaving many rural and marginalized youth disconnected from education, services, and opportunities. By providing structured digital training, the ODPC, Huawei Kenya, and the Ministry of ICT ensured that no community was left behind, building a pipeline of digitally literate youth who can safely harness technology for learning, livelihoods, and civic participation.

Through this Safer Internet Day engagement, the ODPC, Huawei Kenya, and the Ministry of ICT reaffirmed their commitment to online safety, digital inclusion, and rights-aware internet use across all regions, empowering youth to be confident, responsible, and digitally skilled citizens in Kenya’s expanding digital landscape-KBC.

 

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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