06/09/2024
Session Moderation
Digital Safety: Analyzing Kenya's Internet Policies and Governance
Today, Internews is launching and sharing a report on a study completed by KenSafeSpace, assessing the Digital Information Ecosystem in Kenya. This project aimed at building knowledge of digital threats and risks related to digital media and AI, key human rights issues that may be affected or exacerbated by online harmful speech, digital policy gaps, and readiness.
During this convening, I moderated the panel session dissecting Kenya's Internet Policies and Governance considering the rapid internet pe*******on in the country. Kenya was home to 13.05 million social media users inJanuary 2024, equating to 23.5 percent of the total population.
A total of 66.04 million cellular mobile connections were active in Kenya in early 2024, equivalent to 118.7 percent of the total population. This is a clear indication that our lives are increasingly spent online, and therefore this necessitates the need to understand the policies that govern our online lives.
This session, graced by Dr. Grace Githaiga Grace Githaiga -ED KICTANet, Mwengi Kyalo from -NCIC , Benjamin Mwamburi Mzalendo Trust- and Miriam Wanjiru -Paradigm Initiative discussed the various digital safety and security concerns vis a vis then existing policies and regulations. The key areas of deliberation were:
🔸 Exploring the trends and gaps in this area
🔸 Recommendations on the right-based approaches to ensure
🔸 Discussion on the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach to
The media has a key role in tracking information . Panelists consisting of members of the fourth estate dissected this while informing the existing patterns of mis/dis information and their impact on media credibility and media consumption.
continues to be a critical element in this tech-dominated world. It enhances safe digital practices and critical assessment of information online therefore building a responsible citizenship.
This report by Internews launched today had a study conducted between April and July 2024, with the objective of mapping and analyzing digital sources in the country, and trends in digital threats including unethical Use of and . It also analyzed other threats affecting citizens including the under-represented and marginalized groups like children, youth, and indigenous people while analyzing existing policies affecting digital rights.