Kenya: Office of the Data Protection Commissioner opened consultation on draft guidance note on the processing of personal data for research purposes

On 16 May 2025, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) opened a public consultation, until 30 May, on the Draft Guidance Note on the Processing of Personal Data for Research Purposes. The Draft Guidance Note, issued pursuant to Section 53(3) of the Data Protection Act, 2019 and the Data Protection Regulations, 2021, establishes a framework for lawful and ethical processing of personal data for research activities across public and private sectors. It defines the legislative framework including the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the Science, Technology and Innovation Act, and the National Guidelines for Ethical Conduct of Biomedical Research, outlining compliance obligations, principles of lawfulness, fairness, transparency, storage limitation, accountability, and conditions for exemptions under public interest. The consultation seeks stakeholder input to refine data-handling standards for researchers, institutions, and data controllers to ensure alignment with the Act while balancing privacy protection and the advancement of scientific knowledge between 16 and 30 May.