University Management, Council, and Senate members have completed training on data protection and global compliance, aimed at strengthening institutional resilience while enabling safe internationalization.
The training, facilitated by Africa Law Partners and led by legal experts Walid Khan and Ruth Wangui Rukwaro, was a significant step in the University’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive data and aligning its operations with both national and international data privacy regulations.
During the training seminar June 13, 2025 at swiss-belhotel International, participants were trained on key areas such as institutional risk mapping and data classification, conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), developing incident response and breach reporting protocols, and understanding litigation trends related to data breaches.
The facilitators shared practical case studies drawn from real-world litigation, offering insights into how institutions can face legal exposure and how to mitigate such risks through proactive data governance.
Another central part of the session was the focus on developing a roadmap to internationalization without compromising data privacy. The facilitators emphasized the importance of controlled information sharing, cross-border data transfer agreements, and consent-based data handling, especially as the University expands its global partnerships and research engagements.
The University leadership was urged to explore the domestication of international data protection standards into its internal frameworks.
These frameworks, Walid underscored, involve aligning institutional policies with global regulations such as the GDPR, while ensuring full compliance with Kenya’s Data Protection Act. Domestication is expected to include the establishment of clear internal guidelines, the secure storage and processing of data within approved jurisdictions, and the integration of oversight mechanisms to govern data handling across departments.
These efforts aim to enhance institutional accountability, support regulatory compliance, and foster trust in the University’s management of sensitive information both locally and in international engagements.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, stated that the training affirmed the University’s readiness to uphold data integrity while advancing its global academic and research agenda.
Prof. Ngumi noted that the University had been challenged to conduct an internal data privacy audit, establish a cross-functional data protection task force, and develop a comprehensive policy to guide secure international collaboration.
Mrs. Velma Mudanyi, a member of the JKUAT Council speaking on behalf of the Chair, Dr. Micah Onsando, commended the University’s proactive approach to data protection, noting that clear policies and governance structures will safeguard staff and student data.
She reaffirmed the Council’s support for the initiative, emphasizing that the University’s leadership remains committed to cultivating a culture of data privacy, accountability, and institutional trust.
Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Production and Extension, Prof. Jackson Kwanza, observed that data is a critical asset in the modern academic environment, and noted that the training would serve as a safeguard against the loss of intellectual property and innovation-related patents. Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof. Robert Kinyua, stated that the forum provided a timely institutional awakening on the implications of data protection, particularly in matters concerning students and staff. Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, Prof. Daniel Sila, emphasized the need to embed data governance within the University’s administrative structures to support operational integrity and regulatory compliance.
