Consent first: campaign messaging and the Data Protection Act, 2019

Why recorded consent protects both voters and campaigns, and how to make it routine.

Supporter phone numbers and opinions are personal data. Kenya’s Data Protection Act, 2019 requires a lawful basis for processing it and gives people rights over their data, overseen by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.

Make consent part of every form

Record consent at sign-up for each channel — SMS, WhatsApp and email — and honour opt-outs immediately. Sending only to consenting supporters also improves delivery and reduces complaints.

Be ready for requests

People may ask to see, correct or delete their data. Log each request, verify identity and respond within the required time; keep a record of what you did. Take legal advice on your specific obligations.