Journalists across the country have been urged to play a front-runner role in highlighting the digital divide among marginalized communities.
A digital rights firm, Paradigm Initiative (PIN) today said although there has been a perception that the majority of Kenyans can now access the internet, many especially the marginalized communities are left behind.
The firm’s Public Relations and Communication Manager Judy Ogutu said that coupled with language barriers, these communities not only have no access to the internet but also cannot enjoy its services.
Speaking at the ongoing Digital Rights Academy for journalists in Naivasha, Ms Ogutu argued that currently, the internet only has access to key languages, which locks out such communities that do not speak any of them.
“The situation has been made worse by the fact that many governments are deliberately making the cost of internet so expensive through taxes, yet there is no proper connectivity infrastructure that can allow people to access with ease,” she said.
Ms Ogutu said that for the country to take pride in digital inclusion, there is an urgent need for digital literacy and how to use the internet.
PIN has been at the forefront in urging individuals and civil society to continue to hold to account all actors to ensure best practices are adopted, and privacy as a right is protected.
The firm argues that the private sector within African governments must be aware of the process of digitalisation that is being initiated at high speed on the continent and improve their privacy policies.
Ms Ogutu said that as the firm embodies digital values through its advocacy and capacity-building programs such as the academy for journalists, it is particularly keen on personal data and the privacy of communities across the African continent.
She said the proper implementation of privacy policies will ensure that consumers and citizens have more control over their data collection practices and can feel confident when sharing information with third parties.
Her sentiments were echoed by the firm’s Executive Director ‘Gbenga Sesan, who said it is unfortunate that many governments go to the extent of using punishable ways to initiate internet shutdowns and social media crackdowns.
He said, for instance, that although Kenya has a vibrant constitution that guarantees access to information and freedom of expression, media censorship and suppression leave more questions than answers as to whether the country really guarantees free access to information and freedom of expression.
