Women in AI
Immaculate Kassait, MBS
Africa's First Data Commissioner
Immaculate Kassait, MBS (Moran of the Burning Spear — a Kenyan national honor), is the founding Data Protection Commissioner of Kenya, making her Africa's first Data Protection Commissioner. She leads the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), established under Kenya's Data Protection Act of 2019.
In this pioneering role, Kassait is responsible for establishing the legal and regulatory frameworks governing data privacy, AI governance, and digital rights across Kenya. Her office oversees compliance with data protection laws, investigates privacy violations, and develops guidelines for the responsible use of AI and automated decision-making systems.
Her work is significant for the entire African continent, as Kenya's data protection framework serves as a model for other African nations developing their own digital governance infrastructure. In an era of increasing AI deployment, her role ensures that the rights of citizens are protected in the digital space.
