H.E. Eng. Owaka Maxwel,President, The Youth Parliament of Kenya (YPK)

Nairobi, Kenya – October 29, 2024

The Youth Parliament of Kenya (YPK) is increasingly alarmed by recent reports alleging that personal data mismanagement by Safaricom has contributed to a rise in abductions and other security threats. These developments underscore urgent concerns about the safety of individuals’ personal information, especially as it pertains to privacy rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya and the Data Protection Act.

“As an organization committed to safeguarding the rights and welfare of Kenyan youth, YPK views the protection of privacy as paramount. The increasing cases of data misuse, resulting in criminal activities, reveal critical vulnerabilities in how personal data is handled by major telecommunications providers. We emphasize that trust in service providers is contingent on stringent, effective data protection measures, which must be consistently upheld and monitored.”said YPK President Eng. Owaka Maxwel in a statement send to newsrooms.

YPK is now calling on Safaricom, as Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider, to immediately enhance its data protection protocols and take all necessary steps to ensure the highest standard of data security.

“We also urge the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to expedite investigations into these concerns, taking firm action to prevent further breaches,”said Eng. Owaka.

To address this broader issue, YPK is advocating for a nationwide review of telecommunications data handling practices to ensure compliance with robust privacy protections.

“As young people in Kenya increasingly rely on digital services for communication, work, and education, it is essential that they feel secure, knowing their information will not be misused,”he said.

Owaka said YPK remains committed to advocating for policies that prioritize the safety and security of Kenyan youth. We call on the government, regulatory bodies, and telecommunications providers to work collaboratively to restore public trust and guarantee the security of personal data in the digital age.

The remarks from YPK comes after a locally daily published a story saying that personal data mismanagement by Safaricom has contributed to the rise in abductions and other security threats.