This archive report was first published on 16 December 2019.
December 16, 2019, marked a significant milestone in Kenya's quest for safety and security. The Tech for Safety summit, hosted by Uber in Nairobi, brought together entrepreneurs, businesses, the government, and the private sector to explore the potential of technology in addressing personal and public safety concerns.
Philip Thigo, a tech, data, and policy expert, emphasized the importance of collaboration between tech and policy in creating a safer society. He cited the National Transport and Safety Authority as an example of successful collaboration, which is working to minimize road crashes and develop safe road networks with diverse partners.
Initiatives like Smart and Safe Kenya Transport (smarTTrans) are also employing technology, analytics, and policy experiments to save lives and promote inclusive growth. Facebook's Mercy Ndegwa highlighted the company's efforts to make the Internet safer through open-sourced technologies that detect and prevent the sharing of harmful content.
Uber's commitment to user privacy is another key aspect of its safety strategy. The company has implemented features such as location service opt-out and direct calling within the app to protect user data.
As a responsible business, Uber is constantly exploring and building new products to enhance the safety of its riders and driver-partners. The company is keen to continue igniting conversations and debates with like-minded individuals and organizations to identify future actions that can advance safety in Kenyan cities.
