WSO2 Says Kenyan Businesses Must Make Systems Ready for AI Agents
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Bolt Partners With Red Cross to Train Boda Boda Riders in Emergency Response
Bolt has partnered with the Kenya Red Cross to train boda boda riders in first aid and emergency response, starting with 75 riders in a programme targeting more than 500 participants within the first year.The riders completed a four-hour practical session led by the Kenya Red Cross Training Institute (KRCTI), covering basic first aid, emergency response, activating professional help, and road safety.The 75 riders were certified as Community First Aid Ambassadors and handed first aid kits after completing the training in Nairobi on Wednesday, September 23.The programme is based on the role boda boda riders play on Kenyan roads, where they can encounter road crashes and other emergencies while transporting passengers or moving through different communities.Arthur Gacharia, Bolt Senior Operations Manager, said the training was intended to give riders practical knowledge on what to do when they encounter an emergency while also helping them understand when professional assistance is required.“Safety is not only about what happens during a ride; it is also about how we equip the people within our ecosystem to contribute to safer communities,” Gacharia said.Monica Orero, Director of Training and Capacity Building at the Kenya Red Cross Training Institute, said riders could play an important role in the first moments after an emergency because of their presence on the roads.“You are our first responders on the scene. Anytime you go to a scene, the first person is a boda boda rider,” Orero said.The training did not qualify the riders as medical professionals. Instead, they were taught how to assess situations, provide basic assistance within the limits of their training, and activate professional emergency services.Some of the riders said they had previously avoided accident scenes because they did not know how to help, but said the training had given them more confidence to respond appropriately.Patrick Sakwa, one of the newly certified riders, said the lessons had improved his understanding of what he could do during an emergency and when to seek professional help.“I would like to extend my appreciation to Bolt and the Kenya Red Cross for organising this training. The session was very beneficial, and it has empowered us on how we can do the right thing when faced with emergencies,” Sakwa said.Jeremiah Githu said the training had also made him reflect on the death of a friend who suffered a heart attack, noting that he did not know how to perform CPR at the time.“I lost one of my friends due to a heart attack. Maybe if I could have had this training before, I could have at least saved a life because back then I did not know how to do CPR,” Githu said.Other riders called for the programme to be expanded to cover issues they encounter while working. Vincent Kyagulani, a Bolt rider for two years, suggested that future sessions include mental health and counselling because riders can be affected by witnessing road crashes.Alfred Sarinyo, a rider from Embakasi, said future training should also cover how to handle accidents involving electric motorcycles, while urging riders to remain disciplined and look out for each other on the road.Bolt and the Kenya Red Cross said the initial group will provide feedback that will be used to improve the programme before it is expanded, with more than 500 riders expected to receive the training within the first year.
Read briefingConcern as 35 Banks Flagged Over Regulatory Breaches
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has revealed that 35 of 38 commercial banks in the country violated banking rules under the Banking Act in 2025.In its Bank Supervision Annual Report, CBK said that only three commercial banks were not flagged for regulatory breaches during the year.According to the central bank, the figure represents a significant increase from 2024, when 11 commercial banks were cited for non-compliance with banking regulations."Thirty-five commercial banks were in violation of the Banking Act and CBK Prudential Guidelines as at December 31, 2025, compared to eleven commercial banks as at December 31, 2024," CBK stated.The majority of the breaches were linked to banks' implementation of the Risk-Based Credit Pricing Model (RBCPM), while other violations were also attributed to breaches of the single obligor limit and the minimum absolute capital requirement of Ksh3 billion."Most of the violations were with respect to non-compliance with the Risk-Based Credit Pricing Models (RBCPM), breach of single obligor limit and violation of the minimum absolute capital requirements of Ksh. 3 billion as at December 2025," the report added.During the year, CBK conducted targeted inspections across the commercial banking sector to assess compliance with the credit pricing framework.Following the inspections, 33 commercial banks were subjected to financial penalties, while two others faced administrative action.The report identified violations involving the amount banks could lend to individual borrowers or groups of connected borrowers, with 10 banks found in violation of Section 10(1) of the Banking Act for breaching the single obligor limit of 25 percent of core capital.On the other hand, seven banks were also found to have failed to maintain the statutory minimum core capital requirement of Ksh3 billion, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Banking Act.The regulator further identified several breaches relating to capital adequacy, with five banks failing to meet the minimum Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets ratio of 14.5 per cent, while four failed to meet the minimum Core Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets ratio of 10.5 per cent.CBK also identified corporate governance violations among some of the banks, with three banks found to have allowed individual shareholdings to exceed the 25 per cent limit.Another bank transferred more than five per cent of its shareholding without obtaining prior approval from the CBK.Despite the wide range of breaches, the regulator said it had taken corrective measures against the affected institutions."Appropriate remedial actions were taken on the institutions concerned by the CBK in respect of the violations," CBK said.
Read briefingEastern Africa horticulture sector launches regional council to tackle trade barriers
Horticulture stakeholders from across Eastern Africa have launched a regional council to address trade barriers, improve logistics and strengthen the sector’s access to international markets. The council was officially launched in Nairobi during a Regional Public-Private Dialogue on Horticultural Logistics and Trade Facilitation, bringing together government officials, private-sector players, development partners, regulators, logistics operators and regional institutions. Speaking during the launch, Horticulture Council for Eastern Africa (HoCEA) Secretary General Clement Tulezi said the council will focus on reducing trade barriers, improving logistics and cold chains, harmonising standards, expanding market access and promoting technology, sustainability and inclusive value chains across nine Eastern African countries. “Our challenges are regional. Our response must therefore become regional,” said Telezi, adding that, “We must produce nationally. Connect regionally. And compete globally.” Representing the Principal Secretary for Trade, Matthew Komen, Deputy Director for Internal Trade at the State Department of Trade said the challenges facing horticultural trade require coordinated regional action. “These challenges cannot be resolved by any single country or firm acting alone. They demand coordinated public-private action at the regional level.” The Horticulture Council of...
Read briefingKMA warns of rough seas, strong winds along Kenya coast through December
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 23 — People living and working along Kenya’s coast have been warned to prepare for potentially hazardous sea and weather conditions expected from September through December, with strong winds, rough seas, high waves and heavy rainfall posing risks to vessels and people at sea.The Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) said the conditions could also bring reduced visibility, increasing the danger for vessels and people undertaking activities in the sea and along the coastline.The warning covers a period when fishing, transport and other maritime activities remain vital to coastal communities, putting boat operators, fisherfolk, passengers and other sea users among those most exposed to deteriorating conditions.“Avoid venturing into sea during periods of adverse weather and rough sea conditions,” KMA, through its Director General, Omae Nyarandi said in a public notice issued on Wednesday.The authority urged boat owners and operators to properly secure their vessels while underway, moored or at anchor, and directed passengers and crew to wear life jackets while on board.Fisherfolk and other maritime users were advised to exercise extreme caution and postpone non-essential activities at sea when conditions deteriorate.KMA also called on vessels already at sea to monitor weather updates and seek safe shelter where necessary.Coastal communities were similarly advised to remain alert to strong winds, high waves and heavy rainfall and to follow instructions issued by relevant authorities.The authority urged the public to continuously monitor official weather and maritime safety information from the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) and KMA.KMD provides daily marine forecasts covering Kenya’s coastal counties of Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi and Lamu, which are intended to help mariners, fishermen and coastal residents make safety decisions based on prevailing sea conditions.KMA said maritime incidents and emergencies should be reported to the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC).
Read briefingKakuzi birdwatching tour ends in triumph as Japanese royalty sights rare migratory birds
NAIROBI, Kenya Sep 23 – A recent birdwatching and photography excursion to agribusiness Kakuzi Plc orchards in Murang’a County ended on a celebratory note after a member of Japan’s Royal Family, Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado of Japan, spotted at least two international migratory birds in their natural habitat.During her recent visit to Kenya to attend BirdLife International’s 2nd Global Flyways Summit, Princess Takamado, also the Honorary President of BirdLife International, spotted and photographed the Eurasian Bee-eater and the Osprey. The two migratory birds breed in Europe before making long flyway journeys to Africa in the September-October season.Speaking while welcoming Princess Takamado, Kakuzi Plc Managing Director Mr Chris Flowers said the firm’s continued drive to practice sustainable agriculture and preserve its water catchment area has safeguarded some of Kenya’s most ideal ecological zones, accommodating migratory and native bird species.While acknowledging that Birds are powerful indicators of environmental health, Mr Flowers confirmed that Kakuzi continues to see steady growth in bird diversity within its borders.“At Kakuzi, we have seen a steady growth of birds making our orchards, forestlands and other habitats their home, which is a good indicator of our commitment to conserve the environment,” Flowers said. He added, “Protecting this natural habitat is part of our deliberate contribution to the ongoing global flyway conservation efforts.Kakuzi’s conservation efforts are further strengthened through its membership of Nature Kenya, the East Africa Natural History Society. This partnership shows our shared commitment to protecting biodiversity, conserving natural habitats, and promoting responsible environmental stewardship. Through this collaboration, Kakuzi supports broader conservation goals that protect ecosystems, promote sustainable agriculture, and strengthen the long-term resilience of Kenya’s natural resources.While acknowledging the conservation efforts at Kakuzi now sustaining a growing birdlife habitat, Princess Takamado noted that “Migratory birds do not recognise borders. They connect Asia to Africa, the Arctic to the tropics. The Nairobi Flyways Declaration acknowledges this reality: that it needs international cooperation and coordination to keep migratory birds safe.”She added, “I am excited and proud to see that the scientific community, conservation organisations, and the financial sector are uniting to make this happen. At last!! We stand at an important turning point. We have been waiting for this moment for a long time.” During her visit to Kakuzi, Princess Takamado, guided by Kakuzi Executive Head – Corporate Affairs Mr Simon Odhiambo, who is also a prominent local birder, enjoyed her day out driving through macadamia and avocado orchards while photographing various local bird species, including the Hinde’s babbler, Purple-crested turaco, Senegal Lapwing, Pygmy Kingfisher and the African Paradise Flycatcher, among others.According to the recently launched State of the World’s Birds report, 45% of migratory bird species are in decline. One in nine is threatened with extinction. The 2025 extinction of the Slender-billed Curlew, last recorded at a Moroccan lagoon in February 1995, marks the first global bird extinction in mainland Eurasia and Africa in recent centuries, with six other migratory species confirmed or suspected to have been lost in the last 150 years.Species dependent on marine habitats, forests, and coastal wetlands are faring particularly poorly, with seabirds and shorebirds among the most threatened.
Read briefingNACADA seizes thousands of illicit liquor in Nandi County Crackdown
NAIROBI Kenya Sep 23 – The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), in a multi-agency operation conducted this morning, seized thousands of bottles of suspected second-generation liquor and uncustomary goods in Kapsabet Township, Nandi Central Sub-County.The operation, carried out alongside officers from Kapsabet Police Station, targeted premises suspected of dealing in counterfeit and illicit alcohol.The crackdown forms part of ongoing efforts to rid the county of illegal brews blamed for rising cases of alcohol abuse and related health complications.At Shazton Hotel store near Canaan Market, authorities seized 49 cartons of Kingdom Vodka, each containing 24 bottles of 200ml, alongside 10 cartons of John’s X5 Gin with 24 bottles of 200ml each.In a separate raid at Whispers Guest House and Restaurant, officers recovered 118 cartons of Kingdom Vodka, plus 47 additional pieces of the same brand packed in a sack.In total, the operation netted 4,008 bottles of Kingdom Vodka and 240 bottles of John’s X5 Gin.Two suspects, aged 27 and 28, were arrested at the two premises and are expected to be arraigned in court to face relevant charges, including violations under the Excise Act and dealings in uncustomed goods.The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has been roped in to pursue tax-related offenses.Speaking during the operation, NACADA Board Director Benjamin Kuttoh reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to dismantling illicit liquor networks.“The Authority continues to carry out intelligence-led, multi-agency operations against counterfeiters,” Kuttoh said.“I call on the public to keep volunteering information that will help rid society of criminal elements profiteering from this trade.”Authorities warned that the operation is far from over, noting that similar crackdowns will continue across Nandi County and beyond.Residents were urged to cooperate with security agencies by reporting suspicious activities, as the government tightens its grip on the multi-million-shilling illicit alcohol trade that continues to endanger lives, particularly among the youth.
Read briefingKindiki: Kenya Kwanza implementing manifesto ‘project by project’
MARAGUA, Kenya Sep 23 – Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said the Kenya Kwanza administration is implementing its manifesto through individual projects, citing ongoing development programmes in Murang’a County as he urged residents to focus on development ahead of the 2027 General Election. Kindiki spoke on Wednesday, during a public engagement in Maragua, where he inspected the ongoing construction of the Gakoigo Stadium and addressed residents and local leaders.“We are implementing the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto, project by project and putting the naysayers to shame,” Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said.Kindiki said the government would continue implementing its development agenda despite criticism, arguing that development should remain a priority as political activity increases ahead of the 2027 General Election. He also announced plans to meet Murang’a leaders to discuss development priorities and the implementation of government commitments in the region.The remarks came as Kindiki inspected the Gakoigo Stadium project in Maragua Constituency. The facility is planned to accommodate 10,000 people and is being developed to meet international standards, with the project forming part of a wider government programme to expand sports infrastructure across the country.Government records show that Sh900 million has been set aside for construction of the stadium at Samar, with the facility expected to include a standard football pitch, an eight-lane athletics track, a VIP pavilion, modern terraces, changing rooms and spectator stands. The State Department for Sports has said construction is expected to take about nine months.The stadium was relocated from the original Gakoigo grounds to Samar after a technical assessment found the former site unsuitable for a 10,000-seater facility that would meet international standards. The assessment cited inadequate land size, ground orientation and an unfavourable gradient.The existing Gakoigo grounds are expected to be rehabilitated and retained as a training facility and venue for middle-tier competitions, according to the State Department for Sports.Kindiki described the wider expansion of sports infrastructure as a major government programme, saying it was the most expensive sports facility expansion programme in Kenya’s 63-year history.“The current sports facility expansion is the most expensive and costly in Kenya’s 63-year history,” Kindiki said.The Gakoigo facility is among a network of 32 stadium projects the government says it is developing across the country as part of efforts to expand sports infrastructure and create opportunities for young people to develop and earn from their talents.Kindiki also used the Maragua engagement to call for political unity in the Mt Kenya region, urging residents to separate political competition from development.“Let us work for the people, and politics will come later. Let us not allow politics to divide us. It is a small thing. Politics is like football; the ball is given to someone closer to the goal, and the whole team works together. We are in one group, and we will work together to win and support Ruto’s reelection bid,” Kindiki said.He further defended his approach to political engagements, saying he would concentrate on development rather than respond to criticism through personal attacks.“I know President William Ruto, and I shall pass the test on development. But if it is a contest of insults, we will fail because we do not know how to insult, nor do we want to,” Kindiki said.Kindiki said he had forgiven people who had criticised or insulted him and would not respond in the same manner, adding that he had been given a responsibility by elders to promote peace and unity in the Mt Kenya region.He said his planned meeting with Murang’a leaders would focus on development rather than political disagreements.“Tomorrow, I will be meeting Murang’a leaders. We will talk about development in the region and not politics. We have to make sure that the UDA campaign manifesto has been fulfilled and we are ready,” Kindiki said.He cited the proposed Bombo–Gwa Thamaki Road among the infrastructure projects requiring attention in the region, saying the road would cost billions of shillings and should be started and completed within one year.The Deputy President’s remarks come as political activity increases ahead of the 2027 General Election, with his recent engagements in Mt Kenya focusing on development, unity and the administration’s record.For Maragua residents, the Gakoigo Stadium is one of the projects currently under construction in the area. Once completed, the facility is expected to provide a larger sporting venue, while the existing Gakoigo grounds will continue serving the community after rehabilitation.Kindiki’s central message in Maragua was that the government’s development record should be viewed through the projects being implemented on the ground, as he urged residents and leaders to maintain unity while the administration continues pursuing its stated manifesto commitments.
Read briefingBritish businessman jailed over illegal arms deals to war zones worth millions
A British businessman and an adviser to a quango funded by the UK government have each been jailed for 16 years after brokering illegal arms deals to send fighter jets and weapons to war zones.
Read briefingGovernment moves to accelerate completion of development project
The government is stepping up efforts to accelerate the completion of infrastructure projects across the country by clearing outstanding payments owed to contractors and ensuring adequate funding for ongoing works. Deputy President Professor Kithure Kindiki says the government has so far paid 179 billion shillings in outstanding bills owed to contractors undertaking road projects. Kindiki says additional funds have also been allocated to facilitate the completion of ongoing projects and the implementation of new developments. He says the move is aimed at preventing projects from stalling due to delayed payments, allowing Kenyans to benefit from infrastructure investments within the planned timelines. The Deputy President spoke on Wednesday during a project inspection tour in Maragua Constituency, where he inspected the ongoing construction of Gakoigo Stadium and the Mbombo-Kwa Thamaki Road. Kindiki said the government has allocated 1.2 billion shillings for the Mbombo-Kwa Thamaki Road and directed the contractor to complete the project in less than one year. He said the government was progressively implementing its development programme, with projects outlined in its five-year plan expected to be undertaken within the stipulated timelines. The programme, he said, covers key sectors including roads, markets, sports facilities, affordable housing and hostels, among other infrastr...
Read briefingMulwa family to take plea in Dr Victoria Mutiso murder case next week
NAIROBI,Kenya Sep 23 – Rose Mbithe Mulwa and her two children, Angela Mulwa and Chris Mulwa, will on September 29 appear before the High Court in Nairobi to formally take plea in the murder case arising from the killing of psychiatrist Dr Victoria Nthunya Mutiso.Justice Alexander Muteti directed that the three be produced in court at noon after the court was informed that they had not participated in Wednesday’s proceedings through a virtual link.A prison officer told the court that Mbithe and Angela had declined to join the proceedings virtually from Lang’ata Women’s Prison, where they are being held. The judge subsequently directed that they be brought to court physically for plea-taking.The court was also informed that the files relating to the accused persons would be consolidated to enable all those facing charges arising from Dr Mutiso’s death to take plea together.The development clears the way for the murder proceedings to formally commence after the suspects were previously presented before the High Court but did not enter pleas.Mbithe, Angela and Chris were initially scheduled to take plea after the Director of Public Prosecutions approved murder charges following preliminary investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.However, the plea was delayed after Justice Kanyi Kimondo directed that the accused persons undergo mental assessments to establish whether they were fit to plead to the charges.A fourth suspect, Police Constable Elijah Kibelion Kimoi, was subsequently included in the murder case. The four were accused of jointly killing Dr Mutiso on July 29, 2026, at about 9.30am along Mawensi Road in Kilimani, Nairobi County, together with other persons who have not been brought before the court.The prosecution alleges that the accused persons face a charge of murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.Dr Mutiso, a psychiatrist and former director of the African Institute of Mental and Brain Health, was fatally shot on July 29 while travelling in a taxi in Nairobi. Before her death, she had reportedly reported an earlier incident in which two armed men on a motorcycle allegedly confronted her near Junction Mall along Ngong Road.Investigators have also been looking into a long-running property dispute involving Dr Mutiso’s family and Mbithe, who was previously married to Dr Mutiso’s husband, Professor David Musyimi Ndetei.The alleged dispute has featured in the prosecution’s account of the circumstances surrounding the investigation, although the murder allegations against the accused remain to be proved in court.The three family members, together with Kimoi, are expected to answer to the charges when they appear before Justice Muteti on September 29.
Read briefingQuickmart Plans NSE IPO as Owners Offer 50% Stake
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Read briefingOkello Max Reveals First Job, Salary and School Struggles
Okello Max, whose real name is Julius Okello, has opened up about the lesser-known chapters of his life, revealing details about his school days, education, first job and current financial situation. The 35-year-old shared the revelations during an exclusive quickfire session with Mpasho, offering fans a glimpse into the experiences that shaped him before he […]
Read briefingNigerian youth channel the spirit of punk at Wake Up! 2
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Read briefingVictor Kanyari Admits Ministry Began as a Financial Decision, Not Divine Calling
Controversial Nairobi preacher Prophet Victor Kanyari has revealed that his entry into Christian ministry was not the result of a divine calling, but a practical decision influenced by financial hardship. Speaking during an interview on Radio Maisha, the Salvation Healing Ministry founder explained how he struggled to make a living before discovering a fundraising strategy […]
Read briefingMosiria Warns Sifuna Against Reconciliation With Babu Owino
Nairobi City County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria has issued a stern warning to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna against reconciling with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, cautioning that forgiving political betrayals could jeopardize his career. Speaking on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, via a social media post and a voice note, Mosiria expressed deep skepticism […]
Read briefingCan Zambia make the most of the copper boom?
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Read briefingAfrica Needs Digital Transformation Built For Africa
Africa’s digital transformation is often described as a race to catch up. But that framing misses an important opportunity.African countries are building digital economies at a time when technology is changing rapidly. Many markets also have fewer layers of legacy infrastructure than developed economies. This creates an opportunity to design systems around today’s needs rather than simply reproducing yesterday’s models. That requires a different approach to digital transformation. Because Africa is not one market.A digital solution that works well in Nairobi may require significant adaptation in Dar es Salaam. A model that works in Tanzania may need to be redesigned for South Sudan. The differences are practical. Connectivity varies. Financial inclusion varies. Government capacity varies. Regulatory environments differ. Consumer behaviour differs. Informal economic activity remains significant across many markets.People need confidence that digital systems are secure, that their information is handled appropriately and that the institutions operating those systems are accountable. These realities should influence how digital infrastructure is designed from the beginning. Too often, the discussion about digital transformation starts with the technology. What platform should be deployed? What software should be purchased? What application should citizens download?What process needs to work better? What information needs to move more efficiently? Where are the points of friction? Which institutions need to interact? What should the citizen or business experience look like? Technology should then be designed around those requirements.Digitising a fragmented process without addressing the fragmentation can simply create a digital version of the same problem. A government may put a service online while leaving the systems behind it disconnected. Citizens then have a digital front door leading to an analogue back office. The real opportunity is to redesign the system underneath the service.Governments understand their policy objectives, institutions and citizens. Technology companies understand the tools and infrastructure available to address particular problems. Financial institutions understand the payment and financial systems through which economies operate.Bringing those perspectives together can produce solutions that are more relevant and more sustainable. It also creates an opportunity for African technology companies to play a larger role in the continent’s transformation. Companies with experience across African markets can contribute more than technology. They can contribute implementation knowledge.They can understand how a solution behaves in different regulatory environments, how users interact with systems and where apparently similar problems require different approaches.That experience matters because successful digital transformation is rarely about technology alone. It is about adoption, institutional capacity, regulation and mostly, trust. It also about whether the system solves a problem people actually have.Global technology companies have an important role in the continent’s digital economy. The point is that African markets should shape the solutions deployed in them. The next generation of digital infrastructure should be designed with African conditions in mind from the outset.That means building for different levels of connectivity. It means considering informal economies. It means designing around local regulation and consumer behaviour. It means treating data protection and security as fundamental requirements.Pilots can give policymakers and technology partners a controlled environment in which to test a solution, understand its limitations and improve it before considering wider adoption. That approach can help turn digital transformation from a procurement exercise into a learning process. Africa does not need a single model for digital transformation. It needs systems that work.The opportunity is to build those systems around the realities of African economies, institutions and citizens.This article has been written by Eva Nyamori, the Global Chief Strategy Officer at CapitalPay International
Read briefingWhen Implementation And Infrastructure Meet Africa’s AI Moment
The first is the prescribed standard: dig, bury the cable underground by land, so that when the road crews come through — and they will — the fibre survives, or by sea. We are familiar with it. One day, the earth is suddenly churned in your neighbourhood, trenches framed with rubble running parallel to your path, silt mixing with tarmac if it pours. Or, sometimes, the odd fibre cuts a rug right across the road. The second way is faster, cheaper and above ground: string it in the air, on poles, on trees, and lace it with a dollop of hope.Both methods deliver connectivity from day one, but only one is still delivering it in year five. “You can still string fibre in the air, on trees and get the same output. But you’re compromising on availability and reliability. Yes, it’s fast to do it on a tree, but it’ll be more costly in the future in maintenance, reliability, and customer satisfaction.”And that is how an engineer thinks about infrastructure and policy. It is also, Wamola will state, how a continent should think about digital transformation, yet too often, doesn’t. Yes, we know Africa has never lacked ambition. The policies exist. The strategies, laid out. The summits, annual. Missing, however? Implementation. The will to execute. As Head of Africa at the GSMA, the global body representing 800+ mobile network operators, Wamola sits at the precariously challenging yet exciting nexus between operators and regulators, investors and ministries, the networks that exist and the 960 million Africans under their coverage but have yet to go online. The stakes, cliched as this will sound, have never been higher. Because AI will not keep.Wamola’s route to policy is atypical. African regulators and policymakers come wielding law degrees more often than not. She approaches it as an engineer. Six years in Safaricom’s technology division as the first and only senior woman in its leadership, she literally planned and run the networks we angsted over every Friday evening with our peculiar habits, savoured, then took for granted over time; bars on a phone screen. “Having the engineering background, and having worked with a mobile network in the technology division, you get to really understand how a service is delivered. And that helps you appreciate the constraints. Because at the end of the day, the service is costed.”Every infusion into a network, from the licence to the diesel in the generator, ends up somewhere in the price a customer pays for a gigabyte of data. So does every policy decision. Take licensing. When a licence is tied to a specific technology, an operator pays twice for every generational upgrade: once for the real engineering work of new equipment on the towers, and again for a fresh licence, often hundreds of millions of dollars, just for permission to use the new technology, even on kit they already own. The undercurrent cost repeats with every leap from 3G to 4G to 5G, a double whammy flowing through to the price of data. “With technology-neutral licensing, it doesn’t matter whether I use satellite, fibre, 3G or 5G. You just get one licence, and it makes it cheaper.”Narrowing the coverage gap tower by tower, cable by cable to roughly nine per cent of the population living beyond the reach of 3G-and-above networks, coverage almost seems like the easy problem. “When you look at the usage gap (people who have access to the technology but are not using it), then we start looking at other barriers,” she says. Digital literacy. Device affordability. The absence of content in languages people actually speak. Close to a billion people stand on the paradox of an inactive side of that line: covered, but offline. Those people are your unbanked customers, unreachable citizens, digital channel users and everyone you build for but are just out of reach.When looking at African digital transformation as a whole system, Wamola identifies the point of failure not as spectrum, or fibre, or even skills. Instead, she says, it was narrative. “It’s in making it make sense. Digital transformation means you’re moving from something to something. From analogue to digital, from obsolete technology to new technology. It means there will need to be a business case. And making it make sense means somebody, at the end of the day, will pay for it. Because nothing comes for free.”That failure compounds. Africa has not made the case convincingly enough to investors, who must keep capital flowing into a brutally capital-intensive sector. Nor to customers, who somehow believe connectivity is exempt from economics. “In all the other sectors, prices are going up — fuel, food, school fees, hospital costs. The mobile industry is the only sector where the expectation from customers is that the price should go down. Does that make sense? The same fuel that runs your network went up in price, but somehow the data price should go down. The data ran on fuel. The data ran on a network.”A network under repeated assault. “Before, people were stealing copper. Now they’re stealing solar panels.” The panels installed to make rural sites sustainable. Each stolen battery, each severed cable, is priced back into somebody’s data bundle. It also means we need a come-to-Jesus moment. The network is a shared good. COVID proved it when it “became an essential service for life to continue. Mobile money runs on networks.” It contextualises redundancy, disaster recovery and security. “All of that is an investment. If we create awareness and shared value in society, some of those costs can be minimised because we’re having ‘an Ubuntu discussion.’”
Read briefingImmaculate Kassait’s Tenure At ODPC: Milestones, Lessons And The Road Ahead
When Immaculate Kassait walked into the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) in November 2020, she was not taking over an established regulator. She was helping build one.The Office had a mandate under Kenya’s data protection framework, but lacked many of the institutional structures, systems, processes and public awareness mechanisms needed to turn that mandate into a functioning regulatory institution.Kassait’s tenure has coincided with a fundamental shift in how Kenya approaches personal data. Data protection has moved from a relatively new regulatory concept to a growing part of corporate governance, public-sector administration, technology policy and individual awareness.As she reflects on her tenure, Kassait discusses the challenges of establishing the ODPC, the evolution of enforcement, the rise of AI and digital public infrastructure, and the unfinished work facing her successor.A: I was essentially walking into an institution that had a mandate but no institutional structures, systems, processes or public understanding and awareness.It was a big opportunity, but also an enormous responsibility. We had to establish an institution that Kenyans could trust while helping organisations understand what data protection meant in practical terms.We were not simply implementing a law. We were building a new regulatory culture around privacy and the responsible use of personal data.That included institutional structures, regulatory processes and policies, systems for handling complaints and registrations, investigative and enforcement capabilities, public awareness programmes and relationships with stakeholders.The priorities were quite foundational: establishing the institution, putting the right people and systems in place, creating awareness about the new law and beginning to build public and stakeholder confidence in the Office.Q: What was the biggest challenge in establishing a new regulator, and how did you navigate it?A: The biggest challenge was building credibility while building the institution itself.As a new regulator, we had to establish our authority, but we also had to demonstrate that our authority was being exercised fairly, independently and in the public interest.We were also introducing a relatively new concept to organisations across very different sectors. That meant engaging government, private companies, civil society, technology companies, professionals and ordinary citizens, all of whom had different levels of understanding of data protection.We navigated this through a combination of education, engagement, guidance and, where necessary, enforcement.Regulation is most effective when people understand both what is expected of them and why it matters.Q: When you accepted the appointment in 2020, what did you expect the ODPC to look like by the end of your tenure? How different is the reality?A: I expected the ODPC to become a credible, independent and respected regulator capable of protecting the rights of data subjects while supporting responsible innovation.The Office has grown institutionally, our enforcement work has become more visible, public awareness has increased, and data protection has become part of conversations around business, government and technology.Today, organisations and citizens are much more likely to ask questions about how personal data is collected, used, shared and protected. That shift in consciousness is significant.Q: Five to six years later, how would you describe the transformation of Kenya’s data protection landscape?A: Years ago, data protection was largely a new regulatory concept for many organisations. Today, it has become part of corporate governance, public-sector administration, technology conversations and individual awareness.We have moved from introducing the framework to operationalising it. Organisations are increasingly appointing data protection officers, conducting assessments, reviewing their data practices and engaging with the regulator.Citizens are also becoming more conscious of their rights. They are asking questions, raising complaints and expecting organisations to account for how their personal information is handled.Q: What is the single biggest change you have seen in how Kenyan organisations handle personal data?A: Organisations are increasingly recognising that personal data is not simply an asset that they collect and store. It is information entrusted to them, and that comes with responsibility.Organisations now think more carefully about why they need particular information, how long they should retain it, who should have access to it and what safeguards should be in place.The conversation has definitely moved from, “Do I have to comply?” to, “How do I build responsible data practices into the way my organisation operates?”Q: Has Kenya moved from treating data protection primarily as a compliance requirement to recognising it as a fundamental business and governance issue?
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