NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 11 – The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) is using the ongoing 98th Kenya Music Festival to promote online safety and awareness among learners.
The Authority is sponsoring the theme “Child Online Protection and Safe Use of the Internet” as part of its Child Online Protection Programme, focusing on risks including cyberbullying, exploitation, harmful content, misinformation, scams and privacy violations.
CA Director General David Mugonyi said the festival also features classes on productive use of the Internet, online safety and etiquette, building a positive digital identity, and identifying genuine mobile phones.
The festival has also introduced classes 3030J and 3030K on building a positive digital identity for learners with disabilities, alongside promotion of the KS 2952 ICT Accessibility Standards and assistive technologies.
“We are pleased that this year’s festival includes themes such as productive use of the Internet, online safety and etiquette, building a positive digital identity, ‘Click Smart, Stay Safe,’ and identifying genuine mobile phones,” said Mugonyi.
He said the themes are intended to equip learners, teachers, parents and communities with digital safety skills, including protecting personal information and identifying online risks.
The Authority said broadband connectivity has also been extended to underserved schools and communities through the Universal Service Fund, while partnerships with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development and Kenya Institute of the Blind have supported the digitisation of educational content.
Kenya has more than 62 million mobile data subscriptions, 52 million smartphones connected to mobile networks and a mobile penetration rate of 157 percent, according to the Authority.
The festival’s activities include songs, poems and plays addressing issues such as cyberbullying, online kindness and responsible use of the Internet.
The Authority said the activities are aimed at helping learners understand online safety, digital citizenship and responsible use of digital services.
This version removes most of the promotional language while retaining the CA’s key message, statistics and Mugonyi’s quote.
