Privacy Policy | Independent Kenya
The Independent Kenya (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, independent.co.ke (the “Site”).
By using our Site, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information that you provide directly to us and information about your use of the Site automatically.
A. Information You Provide Voluntarily:
- Personal Identifiers: When you subscribe to our newsletters, create an account, enter a competition, or contact us, you may provide your name, email address, and username.
- User Content: Comments you post on our articles.
- Communications: Records of your correspondence with us if you contact our editorial or support teams.
B. Information Collected Automatically:
- Log and Usage Data: Our servers automatically record information when you visit the Site, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, links clicked, and the dates and times of your visits.
- Device Information: We collect information about the device you use to access our Site, including the device type, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.
- Location Information: We may derive your approximate location from your IP address.
- Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to collect information about your interactions with our Site.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes, in compliance with the Kenyan Data Protection Act:
- To Provide and Maintain Our Service: To operate, maintain, and improve the Site and its content.
- To Personalise Your Experience: To tailor content and recommendations, including news stories and advertisements, based on your interests and browsing history.
- To Communicate With You:
- To send you newsletters you have subscribed for.
- To respond to your comments and inquiries.
- To send you administrative messages and technical notices (e.g., updates to our policy).
- For Analytics: To understand how our Site is used, analyse trends, and gather demographic information about our user base as a whole.
- For Advertising: To display targeted advertisements from our partners on our Site. We may use your data to show you ads that are more relevant to you.
- To Ensure Security: To monitor and prevent fraud, abuse, and security breaches.
- To Comply with Law: To fulfill our legal obligations under the Kenyan Data Protection Act and other applicable laws.
3. Legal Basis for Processing (Under Kenyan DPA)
We process your personal data on the following legal bases:
- Your Consent: For example, when you sign up for our newsletters. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
- Legitimate Interests: For our operational purposes, such as site security, analytics, and direct marketing, where our interests are not overridden by your data protection rights.
- Performance of a Contract: To fulfill our obligations to you when you create an account.
- Legal Obligation: To comply with laws and regulations we are subject to.
4. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal data. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:
- With Your Consent: We will share information when you direct us to.
- Service Providers: We share data with trusted third-party vendors who perform services for us, such as:
- Cloud Hosting & Infrastructure: Services like Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud.
- Analytics Providers: Services like Google Analytics to help us understand site traffic and usage patterns.
- Advertising Partners: To serve you with relevant ads and measure their effectiveness.
- Email Distribution Services: Platforms like Mailchimp to manage our newsletter subscriptions.
- For Legal Reasons: We may disclose information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal request from a competent authority in Kenya.
5. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies (small text files stored on your device) to remember your preferences, understand how our Site is used, and personalise content.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our Site.
6. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
7. Data Retention
We will retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this policy, or as required to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
8. Your Data Protection Rights (Under Kenyan DPA)
As a data subject under the Kenyan Data Protection Act, you have the following rights:
- Right of Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to Rectification: You can request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to Erasure: You can request the deletion of your personal data under certain conditions.
- Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we temporarily or permanently stop processing all or some of your personal data.
- Right to Object to Processing: You can object to our processing of your personal data, particularly for direct marketing purposes.
- Right to Data Portability: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided at the end of this policy.
9. Third-Party Links
Our Site may contain links to other websites not operated by us. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any site you visit.
10. Children’s Privacy
Our Site is not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal data, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete such information.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update Independent Kenya Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding Independent Kenya Privacy Policy or our data practices, or if you wish to exercise your data subject rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer:
Email: info@independent.co.ke