Understanding the Data Protection Act in Kenya: What It Means for Your Document Management
How your organisation manages its records isn’t just a matter of efficiency — it’s a matter of legal compliance. Since the enactment of the Data Protection Act (DPA), 2019, all entities handling personal data in Kenya are required to uphold strict standards of security, transparency, and accountability. Whether your records are stored on paper or in the cloud, your document management practices must now align with the law. Here's what that means — and how you can start. What Does the Data Protection Act Require? The DPA, enforced by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), governs the processing of personal data. This includes how data is collected, stored, accessed, shared, and ultimately destroyed. Key principles include: Lawful and transparent processing Purpose limitation (data should only be used for specific, legitimate purposes) Data minimisation (only necessary data should be kept) Storage limitation (data should not be retained longer than