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KFCB launches digital literacy programme for parents

KFCB came up with the programme not only for the parents but also for teachers

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by CYRUS OMBATI

News07 February 2023 - 11:37
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In Summary


  • Google's Michael Murungi said that nothing can take the place of a parent in forging a relationship of meaning, trust, and a true connection with their child.
  • He said the home atmosphere is very key to online safety conversations among families.
Fatima Conte with her mother Martha Conte, Google's Government Affairs and Public Policy Lead in East Africa, Child Psychologist Rose Muchemi and Kenya Films and Classifications Board (KFCB)'s Emmah Irungu during a panel discussion at the launch of the Digital Parental Litercay Programme in Nairobi. February 7, 2023.

As Kenya joins the world to mark Safe Internet Day, the Kenya Films and Classification Board (KFCB) has gone ahead to tackle the safety of Children further. 

KFCB has launched the Digital Parental Digital Literacy Programme for parents and guardians.

Emmah Irungu of KFCB said that through collecting data from their classification and regulatory duties, they realised that there is a major information gap among parents.

"We realise that children themselves know more than the parents when it comes to digital literacy and being tech savvy," she said.

She said that this becomes a big problem when it comes to protecting children when they are online.

"It is their parental responsibility to protect them from online harm, especially as the people who are engaged the most with the children, that includes parents and the teachers," she said.

Irungu said KFCB came up with the programme not only for the parents but also for teachers because they spend a lot of time with the children in school.

Michael Murungi, Google's Government Affairs and Public Policy Lead in East Africa said that nothing can take the place of a parent forging a relationship of meaning, trust, and a true connection with their child.

"We understand that and in order for us to be able to enable young people to love, to learn, to explore, to discover to be entertained, then need for them to be aware of the risks that exist,' he said.

Murungi said the path to doing that is through their parents and guardians.

"So what we've done is we've built not only safety features and products and tools into our products, we've also built educational tools for parents about how to create a safe environment in the home," he said.

He said the home atmosphere is very key to online safety conversations as families.

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