Kabogo Urges People-Centred Tech: AI Risks

Technology is moving fast, and trust in it has to keep up. William Kabogo people-centred AI governance and data privacy Kenya took centre stage on Monday, when the ICT Cabinet Secretary opened the Summit on People-Centred Technologies in Africa at Nairobi’s Sarit Expo Centre.

Trust Is the Real Currency

Kabogo told delegates that every digital system must earn and keep the trust of the people it serves. He pointed to the constitutional guarantees on privacy, freedom of expression and access to information, and said government digital services must respect them. Kenya is building on its data protection work through a National Data Governance Policy, shaped through consultation with civil society, academia and industry.

He was upbeat about what AI can do, from translating public information into local languages to monitoring drought and directing help to the neediest households. But he warned that careless use can expose personal data and weaken confidence in public institutions. He also called for an international AI crisis preparedness exercise, to test how a cross-border AI incident could be detected without sacrificing essential services or citizens’ rights.

Protecting the Young, Honouring Home-Grown Tech

Kabogo gave special attention to children. Kenya has a young population, and many children get online through phones shared within the household, so protecting their privacy is a priority. He added that technology in policing and public safety must be lawful, proportionate and open to oversight.

The summit also looks back to Ushahidi, the Kiswahili word for “testimony”. The platform was built during the 2007-2008 post-election violence to map citizen reports, and it later helped in Haiti and in election monitoring. Kabogo’s message was that Africa has already shown it can build technology that gives people a voice.