Kenya denies US listing of signatories to Internet deal

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Kenya denies US listing of signatories to Internet deal

Kenya has distanced itself from the United States listing of 60 signatories to an agreement that commits countries to shutting down the internet.

Kenya, Cape Verde, Niger and Senegal are the only African countries on the US-led Declaration for the Future of the Internet DFI list.

The DFI also commits countries to not use the internet to undermine electoral infrastructure and influence election results.

They are committed to not allowing or degrading access to lawful content, services and applications, and also restrict access to personal data by government agencies to the extent only permissible by law.

Other listed signatories include the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan and Ukraine.

The pact comes on the back of rising digital authoritarianism, where some states have been acting to censor independent news sources, interfere with elections, promote disinformation and deny their citizens other human rights.

This Declaration represents a political commitment by Declaration partners to promote a positive vision for the internet and digital technologies. The White House said it reaffirms and recommits its partners to a single global Internet one that is truly open and fosters competition, privacy and respect for human rights.

Col. Rtd Cyrus Oguna, a government spokesman, has dismissed the listing as erroneous. Our attention was drawn to a statement published on the Declaration for the Future of the Internet by the US government on the Declaration for the Future of the Internet. The statement lists Kenya as one of the signatories to the declaration, said Mr Oguna.

He said that Kenya can only be a signatory to an international instrument after Cabinet approval and ratification by the National Assembly, which is yet to be done for the said pact.

According to the outcome of the review, Kenya will be able to state her position on the matter. He said that the listing of Kenya as a signatory is erroneous.

The state s denial comes just three months after a pivotal General Election in August in which tensions are expected to be high even as results are expected to be transmitted electronically.

In August of 2017 the Supreme Court ordered the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to allow the opposition to access its computer servers and electronic devices.

In January 2018, the government shut down major local television stations for days following the broadcast of the mock swearing-in of Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga as the President of the People's People.