The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has warned of the many risks children face online and has partnered with the Kenya Music Festival to promote online child safety.
Speaking at the ongoing Kenya Music Festival in Nyeri, CA Director General Ezra Chiloba said that the internet is a gateway to limitless opportunities for children, but that it is also important to protect them from online risks.
“Consumers are a critical stakeholder, especially children, and youth, as they are early adopters of ICT goods and services,” said Chiloba. “In order to promote productive use of the Internet and create a safer Internet experience for children and youth, there is a need for continued multi-stakeholder collaboration.”
CA is the thematic sponsor of “Child Online Protection and Safety” for the fifth year running, with a specific focus on “Promoting Safe Use of the Internet, Promoting Appropriate Online Behaviour, Avoiding Online Vices, and Protecting Your Online Identity and Reputation.”
“Our continued support to the Kenya National Music Festival is one of the means by which CA creates awareness on this very important matter,” said Chiloba. “This platform enabled us to achieve this mutual objective while encouraging children and the youth to showcase their talents through music and dance.”
CA’s partnership with the Ministry of Education is in recognition of the need to educate and sensitize the public on emerging issues through music for early age and narratives, thus raising awareness on topical pertinent issues among Kenyans such as online child safety.
Over the years, the festival has emerged as an effective medium of inculcating positive values among children and youth.
“CA intends to use this platform to enlighten children on the proper ways of using the internet as well as protecting themselves online,” said Chiloba.
He said that CA was giving students and by extension, even teachers and parents the knowledge, skills, and tools to enable them safely navigate the online space.
“Music is such an important mode of communication, it speaks to us in a manner that no words can and enables us to drive home the online safety message,” said Chiloba.
CA invites children, the youth, parents, teachers, and the general public to engage the Authority at the festival grounds so as to learn more about online safety as well as learn more on the development of the ICT sector in Kenya.
The festival, themed ‘Nurturing Talent for Innovation and National Development’, it taking place at the Dedan Kimathi University f Science and Technology.
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