Kenya’s President William Ruto has nominated Lydia Sitienei, the Director of Legal Services and Corporation Secretary at the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), to serve as the country’s second Data Commissioner.
The nomination was announced by the Executive Office of the President following a recommendation by the Public Service Commission. It has been forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and approval in accordance with the Data Protection Act, Cap 411C.
Sitienei is expected to succeed Immaculate Kassait, Kenya’s inaugural Data Commissioner, whose six-year term is coming to an end. If approved by Parliament, she will lead the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), the national institution responsible for overseeing the processing of personal data, safeguarding individuals’ privacy and enforcing compliance with data protection regulations.
The ODPC oversees how public and private institutions handle personal information, ensuring that organisations comply with Kenya’s data protection requirements. Its mandate includes protecting individuals’ rights and promoting responsible handling of personal data.
The nomination comes as Kenya continues to strengthen its digital governance and data protection framework. As more services and transactions move online, regulatory oversight remains central to ensuring that personal information is handled in accordance with the law.
The presidential announcement also included nominations and appointments to leadership positions in several state corporations.
The proposed appointment of Sitienei now awaits consideration by the National Assembly before she can assume the role.
