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Moreover, many applicants have not received any money even days after applying, further raising the spectre of data safety in the hands of multiple data processors.

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What experts and Kenyan citizens say

“Who is the data processor in this case? Is it the government or mobile money providers? Who else has access to the data? Because Equity Bank says their loans will also use the Hustler Fund credit history to calculate creditworthiness. Who else is in this game as a data processor?” KICTANet’s Orembo asked.

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While the government has tried to explain the need for applicants’ M-Pesa pins, experts believe this breaches the 2019 Data Protection Act.

“Your right to privacy is baked into your 2010 constitution and even the government should not take it away. The fact that most governments regularly violate citizen privacy should never, ever be normalized,” John Walubengo, a data protection consultant, noted on the KICTANet public forum.

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“As a citizen, you have a say in every step of the long personal data life cycle that includes accessing, collecting, processing, sharing, retention, securing, and retiring it,” he said.

Some applicants say their data is already being shared or sold without their permission.

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“The problem is that many applicants just want the money, they’re unaware of their data privacy rights,” said Egline Samoei, another KICTANet member.

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