Tala Gets Nod To Be A Data Controller In Kenya

Tala, a global mobile money lending platform, is now a registered data controller in Kenya.

The firm received the green light from the Office of Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), to control the processing of personal data, determine purpose, means of processing that data and can instruct another legal, certified and regulated entity or third party to process data on its behalf.

While acknowledging the accreditation, Tala’s General Manager, Munyi Nthigah said, “This is a great milestone for our company, especially as we diversify our product portfolio and expand across markets. I would like to emphasise that at the core of Tala’s consumer data protection policies are the safeguards, security measures, and mechanisms we have implemented to protect personal data, so that we are able to swiftly react to any potential data breach.”

He added, “It is also important that we inform our consumers that they have the right to request for access to, clarification, restriction, rectification, or deletion of their personal data from our records, and our Customer Experience Team is committed to responding to such requests promptly, and within the timelines provided for by the Data Protection Act.”

Nicola Muriuki, Tala’s Legal Director advised the platform users in Kenta to take the time to familiarise themselves and understand their data rights on the ODPC’s website, and on the App’s  Privacy Notice, available In-App on Tala’s website.

Kenya is one of the few countries in Africa that have enacted a data protection law. The Kenya Data Protection Act (2019) requires data controllers and processors to ensure data quality; and that they establish and maintain security safeguards to protect personal data.