Efficacy Of Information Technology In Protecting Personal And Business Data In Nairobi County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The need for the identification of all persons in all jurisdictions in the world has become

universal. However, the loss of identification documents whether through criminality or

negligence has major security implications not only for the individual but also to

entities that have perpetuities. Studies have shown that these challenges can be solved

by embracing modern technology which many countries including Kenya are yet to

achieve. This study examined the factors that limit the integration of Information

Technology Communications (ICT) in the protection of personal and business

documents and proposes measures that should be taken towards its integration. The

study targeted a population of 150 individuals from the Kenya Police (KP), Kenya Data

Network (KDN) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) from which a sample of 110

respondents was selected. The survey design applied both qualitative and quantitative

research methods to collect and analyze primary and secondary data. Self-administered

questionnaires were distributed to the respondents using simple random sampling.

Semi-structured interviews were also used to collect primary data. Secondary data was

collected through reviewing information from previous related studies. The Statistical

Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for quantitative data while meaning

condensation and categorization were used for qualitative data analysis. The study

revealed that lack of an integrated ICT system is a challenge in tracking missing

identities or even verifying the validity of provided information thus compromising the

productivity and security of businesses and institutions. Results from this research study

highlight the role of integrated ICT systems in enhancing the tracing of missing identity

documents and in making corrections on inaccurate personal data.