Nairobi Legal Hackers was involved in the Conference on Digital Markets in Kenya hosted by Konrad Adenaeur Stifung (KAS) and KICTAnet on 13th and 14th September, 2018.

 

The Kenya ICT Action Network is a network which provides mechanisms and a framework for continuing cooperation and collaboration in ICT matters among industry, technical community, academia, media, development partners and Government.

KICTANet strives to ensure that policy making in the ICT sector adopts an open, accessible, human rights based approach that is characterized by multi-stakeholder participation. Our local chapter has received immense support from KICTANet which is a key community in the ICT industry field in Kenya responsible for catalyzing ICT Reforms for the past 10 years.

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) works for people to be able to live self-determined lives in freedom and dignity. They make a contribution underpinned by these values in order to help Germany meet its growing responsibilities throughout the world.

The utmost priority of the KAS in Kenya is the promotion and consolidation of democracy. The implementation of the new constitution is crucial for the political development and the stabilization of democracy.

KAS launched the Baseline Study Report on Virtual Products in Kenya – existing market regulation and gaps which will formed the basis of discussions in the conference.

At the Conference, our Co – Organizer Rosemary Koech – Kimwatu spoke on a panel discussion on the  Framework for digital markets: in Kenya and EAC region.

Alongside her on the panel were Steve Biko – Soko Directory, S. M Muraya – Director, Salte Digital and Wilberforce Seguton – Bunifu Technologies moderated by KICTANet Associate Barrack Otieno.

Our co – organizer June Okal also shared her insights on the key legal gaps and proposed legal, regulatory and policy instruments which will enable and facilitate a thriving digital economy accessible here.

Our Co – Organizer Rosemary Koech – Kimwatu recently spoke at the Corporate Counsel Forum Africa 2018 dubbed ‘The annual meeting place for Africa’s leading general counsel’. The Forum was held on Thursday 6 September 2018 at The Wanderers Club in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The 7th Annual Corporate Counsel Forum Africa sought to unite the region’s leading general counsel and senior in-house counsel to discuss, debate and deliver vital insights into the changing dynamic of the African legal market.

Africa is recognized as one of the most sophisticated, diverse and promising emerging markets in the world today. Its vibrant market conditions, world-class infrastructure, and growing industrial capabilities makes it an attractive prospect for businesses looking to expand in the region.

But despite its seemingly buoyant economy in the last few years, persistent political tensions and economic instability remains a key concern for the African legal community.

Rosemary spoke on the session on ‘Debunking Artificial Intelligence: what in-house need to know’ with the background outlined hereunder:

Interest around AI has reached fever pitch, but is there much sustenance beyond the hype? As A.I. continues to take center stage, emerging tech will continue to impact the legal space. Machines can be utilized to complete time-consuming and tedious tasks such as data collecting, searching records and fact verification, significantly impacting the jobs of many interns and junior lawyers. So how will the professional structure accommodate for this shift?

As the technology frees up time and makes the profession run more smoothly, does this mean that junior lawyers will be able to take on the tasks of more mid-level executives? And will mid-level executives in turn, find themselves taking on more senior-level tasks? In this session, we’ll explore the possibilities of how tech — not just A.I. — will impact the legal industry going forward.

Also on the panel was Rian Schoeman, head of legal and compliance, chief privacy officer, LAWtrust. Rosemary also serves as a Legal and Regulatory Affairs Specialist for Oxygene MCL which is a communications and public policy company in Nairobi, Kenya.

You can read more about the Forum here

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As part of the legal tech community in Kenya with interests in Intellectual Property, Innovation, Legal Practice,, Information and Communications Technology, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, we intend to use this platform to share our thoughts on matters of interest, events that we believe will fill to your knowledge or that our team will be speaking at and all the amazing things we are doing at our local chapter.

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Karibu!