President Ruto's Paperless Cabinet Meeting Raises Questions of Data Security

President William Ruto recently chaired the first paperless cabinet meeting, a move which is being hailed as a major government digitisation drive. While this initiative is seen by many as a step forward in modernising the Kenyan government, there are some who remain concerned about the security of digital data. The use of paper documents has been an integral part of governmental operations for centuries, and its removal raises questions about how secure sensitive information will be. The new system relies heavily on digital storage and cloud-based services, both of which have had issues with data breaches in the past. Additionally, the reliance on technology could leave certain parts of the country at a disadvantage if they lack access to reliable internet or electricity. Furthermore, while it may seem that going paperless would save money in terms of printing costs and storage space, it is important to consider that switching to digital systems can be costly in terms of implementation and maintenance fees. In addition to these financial concerns, there are also ethical considerations regarding privacy and transparency when dealing with confidential information online. The switch from paper documents to digital records may bring some advantages such as increased efficiency and convenience; however, these benefits must be weighed against potential risks associated with data security. Until more measures are taken to ensure that confidential information remains safe from malicious actors or accidental leaks, many Kenyans remain skeptical about President Ruto’s decision to go paperless with his cabinet meetings.