Privacy Policy for Afrikona

Effective Date: [Date]

1. INTRODUCTION

This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) explains how Afrikona (“Afrikona,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a news organization based in Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya, collects, uses, and discloses your Personal Information when you use our website, mobile applications, newsletters, and other related services (collectively, the “Services”).

We are committed to complying with the Data Protection Act, 2019 of Kenya and all applicable data protection regulations. This Policy supplements our Terms of Service and any other agreements that govern your use of our Services.

We may update this Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the revised Policy on our website with a new effective date. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes your acceptance of the updated Policy, to the extent permitted by Kenyan law.

By accessing or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this Privacy Policy.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect several types of information to provide and improve our news services:

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect Personal Information when you:

Register for an account or subscribe to our services
Subscribe to newsletters or email alerts
Submit comments on articles or participate in reader forums
Enter promotions, contests, or surveys
Purchase subscriptions, premium content, or make donations
Contact our customer support or editorial team
Submit reader tips or story ideas

This may include your name, email address, postal address, phone number, payment information, occupation, interests, and any other information you choose to provide.

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

When you use our Services, we may automatically collect:

Device information (IP address, browser type, device identifiers, operating system)
Usage data (pages visited, time spent, links clicked, search queries)
Location information (generalized to city/country level from IP address)
Cookies and similar tracking data (see Section 6 for details)

2.3 Information from Other Sources

We may receive information about you from:

Social media platforms if you connect your accounts to our Services
Publicly available sources
Third-party analytics providers
Payment processors for subscription transactions
Business partners and affiliates

2.4 Transaction Information

For paid subscriptions, donations, and premium content purchases, we collect:

Payment method information (processed securely by third-party providers)
Billing and shipping addresses
Transaction history and subscription details
Purchase amounts and dates

Our Services are intended for general audiences. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under 16 years of age.

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use your Personal Information for the following purposes:

3.1 Service Provision and Management

Deliver news content and personalized features
Process transactions and manage subscriptions
Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
Maintain and secure user accounts
Facilitate community discussions and user-generated content

3.2 Service Improvement and Analytics

Analyze reader engagement and content performance
Conduct research and develop new features
Improve website functionality and user experience
Personalize content recommendations

3.3 Communication

Send requested newsletters and news alerts
Notify you about changes to our services
Send administrative and account-related information
Deliver promotional materials (with your consent)

3.4 Legal and Security

Comply with Kenyan legal obligations
Prevent fraud, unauthorized access, and security threats
Enforce our Terms of Service and other agreements
Protect the rights and safety of Afrikona and our users

Afrikona does not sell your Personal Information to third parties.

4. INFORMATION SHARING AND DISCLOSURE

We may share your Personal Information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Service Providers

Payment processors for transaction completion
Email delivery services for newsletters
Analytics providers to understand user behavior
Customer support platforms to assist with inquiries

4.2 For Legal Compliance

When required by Kenyan law, regulation, or legal process
To respond to valid requests from government authorities
To enforce our terms and policies

4.3 Business Transitions

In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
During due diligence processes with appropriate confidentiality protections

4.4 With Your Consent

When you direct us to share information with third parties
When you participate in features that involve third-party sharing

4.5 To Protect Rights and Safety

To prevent harm or illegal activities
To protect the security of our Services and users

5. DATA SECURITY AND RETENTION

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your Personal Information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include encryption, access controls, and regular security assessments.

We retain Personal Information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by Kenyan law. Factors we consider include:

The nature of the data and purpose of collection
Legal, tax, and regulatory requirements
Ongoing business needs (account management, customer service)
User preferences and consent status

6. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

Remember your preferences and login status
Analyze website traffic and user behavior
Personalize content and advertisements
Measure advertising effectiveness

You can control cookies through your browser settings, though disabling certain cookies may affect Service functionality.

We use third-party analytics services (like Google Analytics) to understand aggregate user behavior. Some advertising partners may use their own tracking technologies, governed by their own privacy policies.

7. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

Under the Data Protection Act, 2019, you have certain rights regarding your Personal Information:

7.1 Access and Correction

Right to access the Personal Information we hold about you
Right to correct inaccurate or incomplete information

7.2 Deletion and Restriction

Right to request deletion of your Personal Information in certain circumstances
Right to restrict or object to processing of your data

7.3 Communication Preferences

Unsubscribe from marketing emails using the link in any message
Manage newsletter preferences through your account settings
Adjust cookie settings through your browser

7.4 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@afrikona.com. We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests. We will respond within the timeframe required by Kenyan law.

8. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

Your Personal Information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than Kenya, where our service providers operate. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers in compliance with Kenyan data protection requirements.

9. THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND SERVICES

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any Personal Information.

10. CONTACT US

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact:

Afrikona Data Protection Officer
Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya
Email: privacy@afrikona.com

11. KENYAN DATA PROTECTION RIGHTS

This section applies specifically to residents of Kenya:

11.1 Your Rights Under Kenyan Law

As a data subject under the Data Protection Act, 2019, you have the right to:

Be informed of the use of your Personal Information
Access your Personal Information
Object to the processing of your Personal Information
Correct false or misleading data
Delete false or misleading data about you

11.2 Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your Personal Information, you may file a complaint with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) of Kenya.

12. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Policy on our website with a new effective date. We encourage you to review this Policy regularly to stay informed about our data practices.

Privacy Policy