NAIROBI, Kenya, May 5 – The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has rolled out the Industry Guidelines for Child Online Protection and Safety in Kenya aimed at regulating ICT products and services accessed by children and ensuring their online safety.
The comprehensive policy framework lays out responsibilities for ICT service providers, mobile operators, content creators, and broadcasters to adopt both organizational and technical measures that shield children from online harm such as cyberbullying, child sexual exploitation, radicalization, and data breaches.
“These Guidelines provide safeguards for children’s access to and use of ICT products and services in Kenya,” reads the document, reinforcing CA’s commitment to curbing digital threats targeting minors.
Recognizing the increasing internet penetration among Kenyan youth, the guidelines emphasize that the “Child Protection and Safety is everyone’s responsibility”, urging a multi-stakeholder approach in fostering a secure online environment.
Key players are mandated to develop child-focused safety policies, age-verification tools, and educational content that promotes creativity and problem-solving.
CA insists that all licensees and vendors in the digital ecosystem must align their products and services with these regulations.
Organizations are required to publish their child protection strategies and ensure clear complaint-handling mechanisms are available to the public.
Additionally, ICT providers must ensure heightened default privacy settings and adhere to the Data Protection Act, 2019.
Among the more striking measures, mobile operators must ensure that all SIM cards used by minors are registered under legal guidelines, while content providers must ensure age-appropriate classification and access restrictions.
CA has given a six-month compliance window for licensees to implement the guidelines.
New entrants into the ICT space will be expected to comply within six months of acquiring licenses.
Non-compliance will be monitored and addressed through routine reporting and regulatory oversight by the Authority.
