Kenya to host first African Conference on Internet Freedom

Nairobi,Kenya

More than 300 delegates from all over the world are expected in Kenya early next month when Kenya hosts The Freedom Online Conference, with the delegates expected to delve into issues related to internet liberty in their countries.

Kenya will become the first African country to host such a conference and the second in the world, following a successful one held in Netherlands on 9th December last year.

The Conference which takes place in the UN Complex at Gigiri on the 6th and 7th is organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications and spearheaded by the Kenya ICT Board.

“By joining this Coalition, Kenya underlined her commitment to keeping the internet open, free and uncensored to all, and working together with like-minded governments,” said Samuel Losuron Poghisio, Minister for Information and Communications, in a statement.

The coalition currently has 17 member countries interested in advancing the cause for Internet freedom to enable the exercise of human rights as a critical foreign policy agenda to further development. The Coalition draws its membership from countries that subscribe to the ideology that keeping the internet open and free is a worldwide endeavor, which requires worldwide efforts.

Kenya’s hosting of the second Freedom Online conference is an important step forward for Internet freedom in Africa and for the Coalition’s efforts globally. By building stronger support for Internet freedom across Africa and articulating its importance for development, African states can be a model for developing countries around the world.

By focusing on the importance of Internet freedom for development and governance, the Coalition will underline the potential of a free and open Internet for people around the world.

“Kenya is a leader in ICT development in the region and across Africa. Embracing an open and free internet has been a key condition in developing our ICT sector. It is also an important basis for realizing the ambitions of Kenya in terms of ICT leadership in the context of the Kenya Vision 2030,” said the PS, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Bitange Ndemo.

Governments around the world make decisions on freedom of expression, universal access and data protection—most to ensure these freedoms are promoted.

“But Members of the Coalition are also aware that technology can be a double edged sword, in the sense that some governments unfortunately abuse technology to censor and monitor their citizens. That is why the Coalition also focuses attention on the importance of working safely online.” said the Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Joost Reintjes.

A Kenya Chapter event is planned for 30th August, tomorrow and is aimed at presenting policy recommendations on Internet Freedom at the Freedom Online Conference. Google is among the sponsors of the event and there sponsorship is meant to help the delegates fathom the importance of internet liberty.

The writer is a Communication and Journalism Student, Moi University