As Kenya continues to expand the use of digital health technologies, many community members remain uncertain about how their personal health information is collected, stored, shared, and protected. Limited awareness of digital health rights, combined with concerns around confidentiality, data security, and informed consent, can undermine trust in digital health systems and affect their successful adoption.
To help address these challenges, KELIN as the national coordinator of Transform Health Kenya (THK) supported a Community Health Promoters (CHPs) Capacity Building Workshop on Digital Health in Mathare. The workshop brough together CHPs and THK coalition members to strengthen understanding of digital health, the Data Protection Act (2019), the Digital Health Act (2023), and CHPs responsibilities when handling community health data.
Throughout the discussions, participants demonstrated a strong understanding of personal and sensitive data, while identifying biometric data as an emerging area requiring greater awareness and training. Conversations highlighted the importance of informed consent, confidentiality, and responsible data management in maintaining public trust in digital health systems.
Speaking during the workshop, Doris Kathia, Executive Director of Raise Your Voice CBO and a THK coalition member, emphasized the broader purpose of digital health technologies, stating, “your work, as CHPs, is to ensure that you’re using digital health devices to promote the health of our community in a safe way.”
The workshop reinforced the critical role CHPs play as data processors at the community level. Participants reflected on the need to consistently seek consent, protect client confidentiality, report potential data breaches, and empower community members to better understand and exercise their data rights.
As Kenya’s digital health ecosystem continues to evolve, strengthening digital health literacy among frontline health workers remains essential to building public trust, protecting individual rights, and ensuring digital technologies improve health outcomes for communities across the country.
Article by Shekina Plowman (she/her), MPH Black Health Candidate, University of Toronto, currently on practicum placement at KELIN.
To contribute to the discussion, follow KELIN on our social media platforms.
For more information, please contact:
Trevor Mwangi, Program Officer
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
Kuwinda Lane, Karen C, off Langáta Road
Email: trevormwangi@kelinkenya.org
Website: https://www.kelinkenya.org
