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Data Protection in Kenya

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African Data Privacy Laws

Part of the book series: Law, Governance and Technology Series ((ISDP,volume 33))

Abstract

This chapter discusses the data protection system of Kenya. However, since Kenya has not yet adopted a specific data protection legislation, particular focus in this chapter is given to the data protection reform process. An assessment of the Data Protection Bill 2013 is central in this chapter. Also a discussion in this chapter will focus on the current case law decided by Kenyan courts based on the privacy protection afforded in the Kenyan Constitutions (the old and new). To what extent is this case law adequate and relevant to the privacy protection in Kenya? This is one of the main questions that this chapter will attempt to discuss.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Walden (2008), p.8.

  2. 2.

    Ibid, p.17.

  3. 3.

    Ibid.

  4. 4.

    Article 19, ‘Kenya: Draft Data Protection Bill critically limited’,

    https://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/2825/en/kenya:-draft-data-protection-bill-critically-limited accessed 13.02.2016.

  5. 5.

    Makulilo (2013), No.121, pp.24–25.

  6. 6.

    Boshe (2015), Vol.12,No.3, pp.12–13.

  7. 7.

    Kass Online, ‘Statement by Cabinet at the end of its 7th Ordinary Meeting at the State House, Nairobi’, 12.09.2014,

    http://kassfm.co.ke/home/index.php/component/k2/item/1342-statement-by-cabinet-at-the-end-of-its-7th-ordinary-meeting-at-state-house-nairobi.html, accessed on 13.02.2016.

  8. 8.

    The World Bank, ‘Kenya: A Bigger, Better Economy’,

    http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2014/09/30/kenya-a-bigger-better-economy accessed 14.02.2016.

  9. 9.

    The Communications Authority of Kenya, ‘First Quarter Sector Statistics Report for the Financial Year 2015/2016 (July - September 2015)’,

    http://www.ca.go.ke/images/downloads/STATISTICS/Sector%20%20Statistics%20Report%20Q1%202015-16.pdf accessed 15.02.2016.

  10. 10.

    World Bank, ‘M-PESA: Mobile Payments, Improved Lives for Kenyans’, http://go.worldbank.org/IKRNFGS5J0

  11. 11.

    Malaka, M, ‘Kenya takes lead in booming African mobile money market’, IDG News Service\Lusaka, 2014, http://www.pcworld.com/article/2682772/kenya-takes-lead-in-booming-african-mobile-money-market.html

  12. 12.

    Communications Commission of Kenya, Kenya and ITU sign administrative agreement for KE-CIRT/CC, 17 February 2012, http://www.cck.go.ke/news/2012/KE-CIRT_signing.html accessed 15.02.2016.

  13. 13.

    Okuttah, M, ‘CCK sparks row with fresh bid to spy on Internet users’, Business Daily, 20 March 2012, http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate-News/CCK-sparks-row-with-fresh-bid-to-spy-on-Internet-users−/−539550/1370218/-/x6adjmz/-/index.html accessed 15.02.2016.

  14. 14.

    Privacy International, ‘Kenyans face new privacy threats as State expands surveillance powers’, https://www.privacyinternational.org/node/99 accessed 15.02.2016.

  15. 15.

    Kenyanito, E.P, ‘Surveillance in a legal vacuum: Kenya considers massive new spying system’, Access Now, 13.06.2014,

    https://www.accessnow.org/surveillance-in-a-legal-vacuum-kenya-considers-massive-new-spying-system/accessed 15.02.2016.

  16. 16.

    Ibid.

  17. 17.

    Privacy International (n 14).

  18. 18.

    The Constitution of Kenya, Article 12 (1) (b).

  19. 19.

    Taylor, K, ‘Awareness Survey on Freedom of Information and Data Protection Legislation and Open

    Government Data Initiatives’, The Internet Governance Forum, Nairobi, Kenya, 27th–30th September 2011, pp.1–

    19, http://epsiplatform.eu/sites/default/files/IGF6_W123_PSISurveyreport_21October2011.pdf,

    accessed 15.02.2016.

  20. 20.

    Centre for International Governance Innovation & IPSOS, ‘CIGI-Ipsos Global Survey on Internet Security and Trust’, https://www.cigionline.org/internet-survey accessed 15.02.2016.

  21. 21.

    Chimbelu, C, ‘Privacy concerns in Kenya as users turn to M-Pesa to catch cheating partners’ interview with Grace Githaiga, Deutsche Welle reports, 12.07.2013, http://www.dw.de/privacy-concerns-in-kenya-as-users-turn-to-m-pesa-to-catch-cheating-partners/a-16947446

  22. 22.

    Morawczynski, O and Pickens, M, ‘Poor People Using Mobile Financial Services: Observations on Usage and Impact of M-PESA’, Brief. Washington, D.C.: CGAP, August 2009, http://www.cgap.org/gm/document-1.9.36723/MPESA_Brief.pdf

  23. 23.

    UN Human Rights Committee (HRC), ‘CCPR General Comment No. 16: Article 17 (Right to Privacy), The Right to Respect of Privacy, Family, Home and Correspondence, and Protection of Honour and Reputation’, 8 April 1988, http://www.refworld.org/docid/453883f922.html accessed 16.02.2016.

  24. 24.

    Constitution of Kenya, Article 2(5)&(6).

  25. 25.

    S.W.M v G.M.K [2012] eKLR, p.2.

  26. 26.

    [2013] eKLR.

  27. 27.

    Grutter v Lombard and Another 2007 (4) SA 89 (SCA); Angella Wells v Atoll Media (PTY) Ltd & anor, Western Cape High Court Case No. 11961/2006.

  28. 28.

    Rukia Idris Barri v Mada Hotels Ltd [2013] eKLR, p.4.

  29. 29.

    See e.g., Satrose Ayuma & 11 Others V Registered Trustees Of The Kenya Railways Staff Retirement BenefitsScheme & 3 Others [2013] eKLR and In re Hyundai Motor Distributors (Pty) Ltd and Others v Smit NO 2001 1 SA 545 (CC) 557.

  30. 30.

    Kenya Information and Communications Act, Section 31.

  31. 31.

    The Prevention of Terrorism Act, Section 35(3) (a).

  32. 32.

    The HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act, Section 20(1).

  33. 33.

    Ibid, Section 20(2).

  34. 34.

    Ibid, Section 21.

  35. 35.

    Ibid, Section 22.

  36. 36.

    Makulilo (n 5), p.24.

References

  • Boshe P (2015) Critical issues unearthed in East African legal proposals, Data Protection Law & Policy, 12(3):12–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Makulilo AB (2013) Kenya’s Data Protection Bill 2012: many leaks still unplugged, Privacy Laws & Business International Report, 121:24–25

    Google Scholar 

Online Documents

Statutes and Treaties

Case Law

  • Angella Wells v Atoll Media (PTY) Ltd & anor, Western Cape High Court Case No. 11961/2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grutter v Lombard and Another 2007 (4) SA 89 (SCA)

    Google Scholar 

  • In re Hyundai Motor Distributors (Pty) Ltd and Others v Smit NO, 2001 1 SA 545 (CC) 557

    Google Scholar 

  • Rukia Idris Barri v Mada Hotels Ltd [2013] eKLR, p.4

    Google Scholar 

  • Rukia Idris Barri v Mada Hotels Ltd, [2013] eKLR

    Google Scholar 

  • S.W.M v G.M.K [2012] eKLR, p.2

    Google Scholar 

  • Satrose Ayuma & 11 Others V Registered Trustees of the Kenya Railways Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme & 3 Others [2013] eKLR

    Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Law, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Alex B. Makulilo

  2. Faculty of Law, Passau University, Passau, Germany

    Patricia Boshe

Authors
  1. Alex B. Makulilo
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  2. Patricia Boshe
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Correspondence to Alex B. Makulilo .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Law, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany

    Alex B. Makulilo

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Makulilo, A.B., Boshe, P. (2016). Data Protection in Kenya. In: Makulilo, A. (eds) African Data Privacy Laws. Law, Governance and Technology Series(), vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47317-8_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47317-8_15

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