ICT CS William Kabogo /HANDOUT
Information, Communication and the Digital Economy CS William Kabogo has urged Africa to remain centred on citizens, saying digital systems must protect privacy, uphold rights and earn public trust.
He said governments must ensure technology improves the relationship between citizens and the state rather than creating new risks through misuse of personal data and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
He spoke on Monday 5 October 26, when he officially opened the Summit on People-Centred Technologies in Africa at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi.
The three-day summit has brought together African innovators, youth leaders, policymakers, peace practitioners, digital rights advocates, researchers, philanthropists and civil society organisations to discuss the use of technology in strengthening peace, accountable governance and inclusive development.
“Every digital system we build or regulate must earn and keep the trust of the people it serves,” Kabogo said.
He said the constitution guarantees rights including privacy, freedom of expression and access to information, adding that the government’s approach to digital services must respect those rights.
The CS said the government was building on its data protection work through the Ministry’s strategy, the development of a National Data Governance Policy and the ongoing development of technology policies through consultations involving civil society, academia and industry.
The government has been developing the National Data Governance Policy as a framework for the ethical and secure management of data. The Ministry of ICT has said the policy is intended to strengthen data sharing while protecting citizens’ rights and improving public service delivery.
Kabogo also highlighted the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, saying the technology could help translate public information into local languages, identify problems in public systems, monitor drought and direct assistance to households in need.
However, he warned that careless use of technology could expose personal data and weaken public confidence in institutions.
“Use properly. It can help us translate public information into local languages, detect problems in public systems, focus droughts and direct support to the households that need it most. Use carelessly. It can expose personal data and weaken confidence in public,” he said.
Kabogo called for greater preparedness for AI-related incidents, arguing that countries deploying advanced artificial intelligence systems should have mechanisms to evaluate risks and respond to incidents.
He proposed an international AI crisis preparedness exercise to test how a cross-border AI incident could be detected while protecting essential services and citizens’ rights.
The CS further said Kenya’s approach to technology should pay particular attention to children, noting that the country has a young population and that many children access the internet through mobile phones shared within households.
He said the government was committed to protecting children's privacy as artificial intelligence and digital technologies become more deeply integrated into everyday life.
Kabogo also linked people-centred technology to public safety and accountability, saying digital tools could help security agencies respond faster while giving citizens avenues to report incidents and seek redress.
He cautioned that the use of technology in public safety must be lawful, proportionate and subject to oversight, with data collected through such systems handled according to data protection standards.
The summit also traces its discussions to Kenya’s history of locally developed technology responding to crisis.
Ushahidi, whose name means “testimony” in Kiswahili, was developed during the 2007–2008 post-election violence to collect and map reports from citizens. The platform later supported crisis mapping following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and has been deployed in election monitoring and other crises.
Kabogo said this history demonstrated the potential of African-built technology to give citizens a voice and respond to challenges affecting communities.
He urged participants to use the three-day summit to move beyond discussions and identify practical steps that can be implemented across the continent.
“A people-centred approach also seeks to ask who builds these technologies and who benefits from them,” Kabogo said.
The summit will focus on locally owned peace technologies, digital rights and ethical safeguards, rights-based approaches to policing and public safety, as well as technology, critical minerals, climate transition and peace.
Organisers say the meeting is expected to strengthen partnerships across sectors and identify initiatives for future support, investment and visibility.
