The report on Kenya’s Identity Ecosystem provides an overview of the main identification systems used to manage development, and an in-depth exploration of three that are vital to Kenyans’ participation in political and economic life. The report was researched and written by Emrys Schoemaker (Caribou Digital), Tom Kirk (London School of Economics) and Isaac Rutenberg (CIPIT).
The research for the report was funded by Australia’s Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade as part of their support to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to strengthen access to digital ID for women and girls.
Determining true risks and their impact to the user experience of Digital ID
Increasingly, with the introduction of DID programs in a number of African countries, citizens and residents have taken to social media to elaborate on some of their experiences of ID and interacting with ID systems. Albeit limited in scope and magnitude, these online reports of lived experiences provide a useful tool for assessing the impact of DID and identifying likely harms to which users may be exposed. Analysing social media narratives from 11 African countries, this report identifies, in descending order of gravity, three major categories of harms affecting users, as well as instances when the harms are most likely to manifest. These categorisations are proposed as a tool to assess the feasibility and proportionality of DID programs. Category One Harms are primarily associated with an inability to access foundational forms of ID. Category Two Harms on the other hand relate to users having the ID; its impact on constitutional rights, namely, the right to equality, privacy, and other human rights such as healthcare. The last category, Category Three Harms, deals with the harms occasioned by logistical/operational shortcomings such as clerical errors, long lines, etc. This report is guided by two main frameworks discussed below, the Principles for Evaluation set out by the Centre for Internet & Society (CIS) and the Omidyar Network’s Good ID principles.
Kipande, Kitambulisho, Huduma Namba: The Violent Ontologies and Epistemologies of National Identity Systems in Kenya.
In 2019, the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of the Interior announced a new initiative called the Huduma Namba; a centralised, ‘single source of truth’ database that would determine the extent to which citizens would be able to access key government services.
However, the Huduma Number is the latest incarnation of the idea that a centralised register of persons is necessary to effective governance. It is designed to take precedence over the existing ID (kitambulisho) system, which has its origins in the pre-independence registration of African males in Kenya. But despite its stated confidence in its own system, the government launched the Huduma Number under a cloud of threats and coercion. Citizens were given 30 days to register for the new system and informed that failure to register would deprive them of access to banking, passports, mobile money, and even while, for instance, provision was not made for those in the diaspora. Eventually, this move raised suspicion as to the legality of this mandatory enrolment.
This paper will retraces the politics and history such centralised databases in Kenya beginning with the introduction of the kipande in colonial Kenya in 1921, through to the creation of the kitambulisho system at independence, including enrolment of women in 1978 and the modern digital database, through to the Huduma Namba itself. This critical genealogy will emphasise the reasons why the various systems were created, the ways they were expected to operate, and the political challenges they raised, as well as the extent to which these challenges were addressed. In this way, the paper argues that the fundamental flaws in Kenya’s identity systems are political and not technological and that the introduction of a digital database without addressing the political context may compound more problems than it solves.
The purpose of this project is to review the use of IDs in three (3) West African countries in order to determine where the IDs have been used to include and or exclude individuals in getting access to social services. In doing so, we reviewed relevant literature, laws and policies, grey literature, primary and secondary accounts, and other materials on inclusive/exclusive uses of IDs in the respective countries. The Consultant identified Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria for purposes of the study. The countries have been selected to represent the diversity of legal systems and governance structures within West Africa.
For each country, we have discussed two critical identity credentials/documents: the national identification card (or the national identification number in some cases) and the national health insurance card. The two cards are chosen to represent the foundational and functional identification systems in the three countries, and also reflect the peculiar dimensions and implications for inclusivity.
Overall, we find that in terms of laws and policies related to IDs, governments in the three (3) countries generally have a pro-inclusivity disposition. Yet, there are also policies and laws in the countries that undermine ID inclusivity and intend promote exclusivity. These exclusionary factors of the six (6) IDs studied here are often heightened by administrative impediments to access. Below are some of the major observations from the three (3) country’s case studies.
A Downloadable version of the policy recommendations below is here.
Beyond Technical Soundness: Making Room for Human Rights in Kenya’s Digital Identity Projects.
Policy Brief.
Developing countries around the world are turning to digital identity systems to address development challenges. But some development challenges cannot be resolved purely on technical terms. Where they are implemented without adequate consideration of the local social and historical context, the systems can cause significant harm that undermine any putative benefits. This policy brief focuses on Kenya’s digital identity project which has been plagued with dissent and confusion in part because it has not been sensitive to key human rights concerns. It provides a preliminary human rights framework to analyse Kenya’s Huduma Number.
The report is based on a 12-month desk study conducted at the Centre for Intellectual Property and Technology (CIPIT) at Strathmore University.1 In brief, the study found that the logic of ID systems in Kenya has always been premised in discrimination and structural violence which has neither been challenged nor addressed over the years. The Huduma Number is therefore being grafted on to a problematic basis and must be subjected to a thorough human rights assessment before it proceeds. Examples of this contextual basis include vetting for specific ethnic communities, politicisation of identity and coercion perpetrated by the Executive.
Aside from these conceptual flaws, the roll out of the Huduma Number has as well been problematic. A court held that the process was not mandatory due the absence of a Data Protection Act.2 This was not the first setback. Earlier, in 2007, a unique PIN generated at the direction of an Inter-Ministerial Task Force was to be integrated into the National ID – this did not occur. In 2009, a tender was awarded to OT Morpho to print the cards but this also did not come to pass due to a court challenge. The process was restarted in 2011 through the Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Service Act and stalled in 2014. The process has also seen insufficient public participation. The Executive began the Huduma Number registration exercise in June 2018 on the basis of an Executive Order as opposed to an Act of Parliament, precluding public participation. The enabling Act was subsequently passed via the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act in December 2018, but there wasn’t much public participation in that process either. Throughout all this, the government policy was inconsistent. State officers and public officials gave conflicting accounts of the mandatory nature of the Huduma Number.3 The legal validity for the Huduma Number was also questioned by the Senate due to the failure of the National Assembly to consult it during parliamentary debate.
The Huduma Number also faced a number of human rights challenges. Notably, on 22nd March 2019, the Kenya Commission on Human Rights (KCHR) and the Nubian Rights Forum filed a petition to stop the Huduma Namba registration exercise citing that it violated the constitution. Despite a concluded court case, the broader human rights concerns of civil society remain unaddressed. These include: discrimination and exclusion; data protection; state surveillance; and a lack of transparency and public participation.
Conclusions: Technical soundness cannot compensate for human rights failures embedded in the logic of a digital identity system. The Huduma Namba project is not only technically unsound but contains significant human rights issues that must be addressed. A human rights analysis of a digital ID system must address questions of harm, privacy, balance of power, democratic participation, and suitability for local context.
Summarized Policy Recommendations
Recommendations for the Executive: Conduct meaningful nationwide, public engagement on the Huduma Namba, including translations into local languages to enable full participation; and address issues of discrimination and exclusion embedded in the logic of identity systems in Kenya, particularly on the unfair use of vetting against marginalised communities.
Recommendations for the Legislature: Suspend the provisions of the data protection law until an effective human rights review can be conducted with the oversight of the Senate and in partnership with human rights actors in the country. Review, revise, or eliminate “carve-outs” such as blanket exemptions from data protection provisions for public sector activities.
Recommendations for the Judiciary: Strengthen the capacity of the judiciary to understand and effectively litigate digital rights issues.
Recommendations for Human Rights Organisations: Strengthen the capacity of Kenya’s human rights community to respond to the changes in the digital rights landscape; Conduct meaningful research into alternative methods of improving service delivery that do not divert key government resources, perpetuate discrimination and exclusion, enhance the coercive reach of the state, and engender mass surveillance and criminalisation of the society; Lobby parliament for a human rights review of the Data Protection Act (2019) and demand amendments of clauses that do not conform to international standards on data protection; Increase public awareness on the importance of digital rights as human rights, and understanding the implications of building the state’s coercive and surveillance capacity; and Support public forums and debates on the impact of digital identities on daily life.
1 See generally, Nanjala Nyabola and Isaac Rutenberg (forthcoming) Kipande, Kitambulisho, Huduma Number: A Critical History of Identity Systems in Kenya (unpublished).
CIPIT researcher Grace Mutung’u was announced as the runner up in the Accountability category for the Good ID Awards. See the announcement here
Dr. Melissa Omino:
Dr. Melissa Omino is an intellectual property (IP) expert witha research focus on the development and negotiation of IP provisions in international trade agreements by and with Global South countries. A cum laude graduate with practical legal experience both in academia and practice, Dr. Ominoholds a Doctorate in Law (focusing on Intellectual Property and Trade Law). Her range of expertise also includes the legal frameworks within the sphere of Artificial Intelligence, Data Protection, and Digital Rights.
Shealso focuses her energies in mentoring and nurturing researchers as part of her role as Director at the Center for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT). Dr. Omino is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Commissioner of Oaths, and Notary Public.
She is also a co-host of the Friendly Troll Podcast where she disseminates research to a wider audience in the Global South in accessible language.
Kendi Murithi:
Kendi holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Strathmore University in Finance and Business Administration, a CPA 5, and an MBA in Finance from USIU-Africa (2020).
She joined the team in 2014 overseeing all the administrative and finance functions of the Centre. Beyond CIPIT, she enjoys conversations on wealth creation, financial freedom and entrepreneurship.
Chebet Koros:
Chebet is an experienced advocate of the High Court of Kenya, who has specialized in intellectual property law. One of her focal areas is intellectual property education with an emphasis on commercialisation of intellectual property assets. At CIPIT, she leads research on the intersection of intellectual property law and innovation with the aim of informing policy change in Kenya, regionally and globally.
Nelly C. Rotich:
Nelly is a Doctor of Laws Candidate at the University of Pretoria. She holds a Master of Law (Pretoria) and a Bachelor of Laws (Kabarak). Nelly is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a Certified Professional Mediator. Her research interest and areas of practice are digital trade, digital rights, and data protection and governance. Nelly currently heads the Data Policy and Governance and Cyber Law and Policy Departments.
Prof Luis G. Franceschi:
Prof Luis G. Franceschi, LLB, LL.M, LL.D is Founding Dean of Strathmore University Law
School, which is today regarded as one of the most reputable and innovative law schools in
Africa. As a thinker, educator and writer, he loves positive and disruptive innovation. He is
currently engaged on the Courts of the Future initiative, where he has brought together
academia, practitioners, governments and judicial officers to transform the way justice
systems operate in Africa. He is the recipient of the 2018 Utumishi Bora National Award in
Research & Writing, the 2016 Australian Award and Visiting Fellowship at Griffith Law
School (Brisbane) and he has been appointed as Visiting Fellow of Mansfield College during
his visit to Oxford.
His area of expertise focuses on the convergence between Constitutional law and Public
International Law “the constitutional regulation of the foreign affairs power”. He is also a
legal advisor to several national and international government agencies, commissions and
programmes, including international and regional courts, the United Nations and the World
Bank. He sits on several boards: Transparency International (Kenya), the International
Justice Commission (The Hague), the African Prisons Project (London), the Africa Legal
Network (ALN) Academy (Mauritius), the International Association of Law Schools (New
York), among others.
His latest publications include “The Rule of Law, Human Rights and Judicial Control of
Power”, Springer; “Judicial Independence and Accountability in Light of judiciary Code of Conduct and Ethics of Kenya” ICJ Kenya; “The Cost of the Constitution in Kenya: A Cost
Analysis of the New Governance Framework Introduced by the 2010 Constitution of Kenya”,
Harvard Africa Policy Review; “The Constitution of Kenya; A Commentary” (a 900-page
article by article commentary of the Constitution), SUP (second edition); and “The African
Human Rights Judicial System; Streamlining Structures and Domestications Mechanisms
Viewed from the Foreign Affairs Power Perspective”. He is also a weekly columnist with the
Daily Nation Newspaper (Kenya). He has also conducted executive leadership courses for
CEOs in more than 25 countries. He is a Kenyan citizen and resides in Nairobi.
Angela Wasunna:
Angela Wasunna is Vice President, Emerging Markets Policy at Pfizer. In her role, she is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a coordinated approach to advance business-focused policy issues related to drug pricing, intellectual property, health systems, healthcare financing and regulatory reform in Emerging Markets. Previously Angela was Assistant General Counsel, Intellectual Property Policy in Pfizer’s Legal Division.
Angela received her law degree from the University of Nairobi Kenya, and advanced law degrees from McGill University, Canada and Harvard Law School. She is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Before moving to Pfizer, Angela was Associate for International Programs at the Hastings Center for Bioethics, New York. At the Hastings Center, she managed projects on intellectual property rights, market mechanisms in health systems, and public health policy.
Angela has also served as consultant to several agencies including the World Health Organization, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank and the Department for International Development, UK (DFID). Angela has published several peer-reviewed articles in academic journals, and lectured internationally.
She is co-author of the book: Medicine and the Market: Equity v Choice, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.
Prof. Githu Muigai:
Professor Githu Muigai hold an LLB and a PhD from the University of Nairobi, an LLM from the Colombia University Law School and Diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). He was called to the Bar in 1985. He specializes in public procurement law, corporate finance, civil and commercial litigation. In addition to the practice of Law, he is the immediate former Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya.
Florence Ogonjo:
Florence Anyango Ogonjo is a Tech Policy Researcher and Advocate of the High Court of Kenya pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy at Strathmore University. Her research focuses on critical issues in Artificial Intelligence Policy and governance, Data Governance, Data Protection Policy, Digital Rights, and the intersection of technology and human rights. Through her expertise in tech policy research, she endeavours to contribute to shaping critical areas of technology and law.
Alberto J. Cerda Silva:
Alberto J. Cerda Silva is tenured assistant professor in law and technology at the University of Chile Law School. As a former Fulbright Commission scholar, he holds a doctoral degree from Georgetown University with a dissertation on human rights, copyright, and internet regulation in Latin America. Currently, he is program officer at the Ford Foundation’s International Technology and Society Program, from where he supports organizations advancing internet policies from a social justice and human rights viewpoint worldwide. E-mail: acerda@uchile.cl
NANJALA NYABOLA:
Nanjala Nyabola is an independent writer and researcher based in Nairobi, Kenya. Her work focuses on the intersection between technology, media, and society. She holds an MSc in African Studies and an MSc in Forced Migration, both from the University of Oxford, as well as a JD from Harvard Law School. She has held numerous research associate positions including with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) and other institutions, and has worked as a research lead for several projects on human rights broadly and digital rights specifically around the world. She is a Fellow at the Stanford Digital Civil Society Programme, and the Centre for International Governance Innovation. Nanjala has published in several academic journals including the African Security Review and The Women's Studies Quarterly, and contributed to numerous edited collections. Nanjala also writes commentary for publications like The Nation (US), Al Jazeera, The Boston Review and others. She is the author of Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics: How the Internet Era is Transforming Politics in Kenya (Zed Books, 2018) and Travelling While Black: Essays Inspired by a Life on the Move (Hurst Books, 2020).
ELVIS OGAH:
Award-winning Research Analyst and Corporate Strategist with over 10 years’ experience working in the Digital Identification sub-sector. Proficient in researching, analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data related to markets, operation, and economies. Extensively adept in helping organizations design paths to growth and profitability amidst competition and constant change. Holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and two Master’s degree respectively in International Affairs and Political Economy. Certified in Project Management and Data Analytics. Received a Diploma in ICT from ISP Computer Institute. Obtained an International Certificate in SME Banking and Financial Analytics from the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII). Participant in the 2020 Digital Identity and National Security Fellowship from the Center for African Affairs and Conflict Research (CAACOR). Policy Ambassador at the Nigerian Global Affairs Council (NIGAC). Currently a Doctoral Student at the University of Abuja, Nigeria.
DR. JOHN OTIENO OREDO:
Dr. John Otieno Oredo, PhD is an educator with over twenty years teaching experience in secondary and university levels. John is a lecturer in the Department of Information Science at the University of Nairobi and previously served as a Research Associate at Kenya Education Network (KENET). He holds a PhD degree in Business Administration - Strategic Information Systems (University of Nairobi); MSc. in Information Technology (Strathmore University); and a Bachelor of Education (Moi University). John is a researcher who has published on educational technology and information systems. His current research revolves around Public Automation, Machine Learning, Data Science, Adoption of Emerging Digital Technologies, Data Analytics, ICTs in Education and Technology Related Stress. He has facilitated workshops on educational technology and academic integrity for University staff and Library Professionals. John is trained in scientific communication and publishing (UON); Research writing (INASP), Item Writing (KNEC), E-Learning course design (ETSU) and supporting faculty in developing online course proficiencies (EDUCAUSE), Advanced Research Design (PASGR) and Critical Discourse Analysis (Stellenbosch University). He is an active member of several professional bodies: ISACA; Full member of Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) and a columnist for its MANAGEMENT magazine; Computer Society of Kenya (CSK), Association for Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE); Project Management Institute (PMI) and Association for Information Systems (AIS) where he serves as the Eastern Africa Chapter President. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Big Data Engineer and Artificial Intelligence Analyst. John also has an Executive Education in Supply Chain Management from Kuhne Logistics University (Germany). He spends his free time tinkering with open-source productivity and research tools.
FELIX ATANDI ACHIRA:
Felix Atandi is a cybersecurity consultant, data governance expert and an applied researcher in privacy-preserving technologies. He is the Security Solutions Architect at CyberTembo, a cybersecurity company in East Africa and has been a Subject Matter Expert with over 10 years of experience in the field. His research interests span theoretical and applied cryptography and their application to everyday problems throughout computer science regarding Security by Default and Design.
He has a BSc. In Computer Science from Kabarak University and an MSc. Computer Forensics and Cyber Security; ‘Threat Intelligence using Honeypots’ from the University of Greenwich, London. Throughout his career, Felix has developed a skill set directly relevant to cybersecurity including an intersection of digital forensics, cyber policy & governance, information security regulatory compliance, development of strategic cybersecurity frameworks as well as industry best practices and methodologies.
His research interest covers the design, analysis and implementation of efficient privacy-preserving cryptographic techniques and their applications. Specifically, with a strong focus on topics covering Homomorphic Encryption, Secure Multiparty Computations, Differential Privacy and Post-Quantum Cryptography. His research is inherently ground-up and driven by the co-production of knowledge with diverse groups of people, in order to understand the wider security implications of information technology.
FAITH O. AMATIKA:
Faith is a Kenyan lawyer, an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya of over twelve (12) years standing. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree (LL.B) from Moi University and a Master of Laws degree (LL.M) in Intellectual Property Law from Ankara University, Turkey. She currently works at the Kenya Copyright Board as a Senior Legal Counsel where she doubles up as the country focal point in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) project on the use of IP in the software sector. Faith has great passion for emerging technologies for instance artificial intelligence, blockchain technologies, internet of things etc. She likes interrogating the interplay between these technologies and the law. She is also interested in intellectual property and intangible asset valuation and helping SMEs and start-ups make the most of their intangible assets.
GITINYWA LOUIS:
Gitinywa Louis is an attorney and litigator, specializing in Constitutional law and International Human Rights law, where he has a particular interest on issues related to digital rights for instance: Freedom of expression online, Data privacy, Internet governance and Fintech.
Before joining the private practice he also served as public Prosecutor for the Rwanda National Public Prosecution Authority since 2011 up to March 2016where he has been involved in many cases related to prosecution of economic crimes, and others criminal cases before domestic courts in Rwanda.
He is also a regular contributor to Global Voices where he has published different articles on issues related to freedom of expression online, the massive use of surveillance technologies and their impacts on data privacy in Rwanda.
He is called to Rwanda Bar Association and holds a Masters of Law (UDSM) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Constitutional law (CEU-Budapest).
OSCAR OKWERO:
Oscar is a recognized and results-oriented Cyber Security Leader and researcher with over 7 years’ experience in Cyber security and Technology risk management. Oscar begun his career at The Copy Cat Ltd as a Management trainee then later as a Pre-sales
Systems Security Engineer where he led the go to market in Security technologies. He then Co-founded an IoT based technology company, Sine solutions Ltd that carried out location-based adverts in public service vehicles in Nairobi and had a partnership with IBM research Africa, The government of Kenya and major advertising agencies. He later worked as a Systems analyst at the
Christ Is the answer ministries (CITAM). Oscar is a Chevening Scholarships alumni of (2018-2019) through which he pursued an MSc IT Cyber Security at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK. Where he researched on the application of Artificial intelligence on Cloud data loss prevention and developed a model to demonstrate the research, a project that earned him an entry into the University of Glasgow School of computing Science Hall of fame. Oscar is also a US-Aid Scholar at the Strathmore
University for a Bachelor of business Information & Technology (2009-2013) and holds a diploma in Computer studies from the Technical University of Kenya. Oscar is also a member of the John Smith centre for public policy at the University of Glasgow as well as a general member of the Chatham house. Oscar Okwero is currently a Cyber security researcher with particular interest in Cyber threat intelligence and general application security in the cloud. His other interests are in Technology
Law, Artificial intelligence & Machine learning as pertains to Cyber Security.
Wakesho Kililo:
Wakesho Kililo is the Africa Coordinator, Digital Rights, Greater Internet Freedom (GIF) Project at Internews. Previously, Wakesho worked with the Kenyan Section of the International Commission of International Jurists where she managed the International Justice Program, implementing programs geared at pursuing accountability for victims of autrocities. She also worked on electoral governance Issues at Act change Transform in their Democracy Governance and Human Rights Program, Transparency International Kenya, and Article 19 Eastern Africa. She serves as a member of the Law Society of Kenya Public Interest Litigation and Legal Aid committee. Wakesho was named Civil Society Lawyer of The Year 1st Runners Up in 2019 and Top 35 under 35 Youth Advocate of the year 2020. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and has a post graduate diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law.
Phionah Achieng Uhuru:
Phionah holds an LLB (Moi University), a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (Kenya School of Law), and an LLM in Intellectual Property and Competition Law (Munich Intellectual Property Law Center). She is a member of the Kenyan Bar with a special interest in research and policy development, particularly in the areas of Intellectual Property Law, Competition Law, and Information Privacy. She is currently focusing on research in the areas of pharmaceutical patents and health data privacy.
Oarabile Mudongo:
Oarabile is a Policy Researcher and a Technologist whose focus is Public Interest Technology at the intersection of digital governance, policy, and regulation. He also assists AUDA-NEPAD in driving strategic approaches to Africa's scientific capacity for regionally oriented regulation and management of the innovation ecosystem and emerging technologies as a Member of the writing team for the AU-AI Continental Strategy for the AU High Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET).
He currently serves on the MIT Sloan Management Review's Responsible AI Expert Panel, which assesses how companies design and approach Responsible AI practices, policies, and standards. Oarabile is also a recipient of the Media Democracy Fund and Ford Foundation's Public Interest Technology Exchange Fellowship. He is currently a Policy Specialist working in the Africa AI Observatory project, where he specializes on mapping AI country policy practices, strategies, and data governance legislation.
Lilian Olivia Orero:
Lilian Olivia Orero is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and Award-winning writer based in Nairobi, Kenya. She is a Researcher with Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University. She has participated in a research sprint examining the challenges of navigating digital identity amid crises. She is a Fellow of the Kenya School of Internet Governance, Future Africa and East Africa Emerging Public Interest Advocates Programme. She serves as Civil Society Regional Reference Group Member with UN Women Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Program advocating for ending violence against women and girls. Olivia has published with London School of Economics and Political Science, Manchester Journal of International Economic Law and Youth Law Journal. She has published a blog titled “Balancing the protection of fundamental rights in the fight against disinformation” with the African Union-European Union Digital for Development Hub. She has also published on gendered topics such as domestic violence, sexual consent, rape, abortion and digital gender divide. She holds Advanced Human Rights Certificates on the right to privacy from Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, Post-Graduate Diploma in Law from Kenya School of Law and Bachelor of Laws Degree from Moi University.
Joshua Kitili:
Joshua Kitili is an Advocate of the High Court and also holds an LLM (University of Strathclyde) in Information Technology & Telecommunications law. His interests are in privacy, data protection and Information Technology law in general.
Natasha Karanja:
Natasha holds an LLB from the University of Kent and an LLM in International Commercial and Economic Law from SOAS University of London. She is enthusiastic about the centre's mission of creating and sharing knowledge of the development of intellectual property and information technology within the African setting. This falls in line with her passion of engaging with conscious policy making that has a lasting impact on the well being of the African populace.
Josephine Kaaniru:
Josephine Kaaniru is a legal researcher enthusiastic about technology policy, with an emphasis on AI policy, digital rights and data governance. She also works on inclusion projects for people with disabilities, taking into account how technology may help close gaps that people with disabilities face. She is committed to making sure that technological advancements solve problems rather than infringe upon human rights.
Calvin Mulindwa:
Calvin Mulindwa is a graduate of Strathmore University with a background in Law. Currently serving as a Research Assistant at the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law, he focuses on the intricate realms of Data Governance and Intellectual Property.
Cynthia Nzuki:
Cynthia Nzuki is a young lawyer with expertise in policy, research, and legal consulting on intellectual property matters within the creative economy. She graduated from Strathmore University and additionally gained certifications from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy and Harvard Law School (Online IP Courses – CopyrightX and PatentX). Currently pursuing an LLM at Strathmore Law School (2025 intake), Cynthia Nzuki is dedicated to advancing legal frameworks that support creatives, innovation, artificial intelligence and digital economies.
Catriona Onyango:
Catriona is a CPA Finalist and a holder of a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (Accounting Option) from the University of Nairobi.
Kevin Muchwat:
Kevin Muchwat is a Bachelor of Science degree holder in Physics from South Eastern Kenya University and possesses extensive experience in developing desktop, mobile, and web applications as a full-stack developer. He served as a technical consultant for IFRC, contributing to the design and implementation of Volunteer Management Systems for national societies across Africa. Kevin's expertise lies in the efficiency and performance of server applications and their scalability, which is fueled by his immense passion for the field.
Dr. Rutenberg:
Isaac Rutenberg is a practicing IP lawyer, PhD scientist, and extensively published legal scholar who is passionate about inclusive, responsive and responsible legal frameworks and innovation ecosystems. He has 15+ years of experience as outside IP counsel for small and large companies, universities, and research organizations.
Isaac is the founder of the Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) at the Strathmore Law School, Strathmore University, where he is also an Associate Professor of ICT Policy and Innovation. He is also an Associate Member at the Center for Law, Technology, and Society at the University of Ottawa.
Isaac holds a JD (degree in law), a PhD in Chemistry, a bachelor of science in Chemistry, and a bachelor of science in Mathematics/Computer Science. He is admitted to practice law in the state of California, patent law in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and patent/trademark law in the Kenya Industrial Property Institute.
Nelson Otieno Okeyo:
Nelson is a Kenyan Advocate with passion for practice and research interests in data protection law, data justice, and business and human rights. He is currently helping clients to navigate the data protection regulatory space in Africa. A TGCL scholar holding LL.M in cybersecurity regulation in East African Community, he is currently undertaking PhD studies in design and practice of data protection impact assessment in Africa at the University of Bayreuth, Germany where he also doubles up as a Teaching and Research Assistant to the Chair of African Legal Studies. His doctoral research project is undertaken as part of the International Doctoral Programme on business and human rights hosted at the Centre for Human Rights at the Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. Nelson has participated in certified trainings on data protection and fellowships in research centres and think tanks in Kenya, East Africa, and Europe. He has also published literary work on legal aspects of data protection and trains on Advanced Human Rights Course in Data Protection in Africa with Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
During the course of the fellowship, he will research on the intersection between data protection law and epistemic data justice.
Teresia Munywoki:
Teresia Munywoki is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree at Liverpool John Moores University. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Strathmore University and is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, as well as a Certified Professional Mediator. Teresia is actively engaged as a Technology Policy Advocate, focusing her research on data protection and governance, digital rights, cybersecurity law, and intellectual property law. Her goal is to contribute to policy development and change in Kenya, as well as on a regional and global scale. During the course of the fellowship, she will research on "Data Protection and Empowerment: Enhancing Resilience through Data Literacy and Privacy Enhancing Technologies for Refugee Women in South Africa, Uganda and Nigeria".
