Transport Principal Secretary Mohammed Daghar on Tuesday responded to concerns about data leaks on platforms offering National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) services.
While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, the PS explained that NTSA services were rendered through eCitizen.
He added that this was managed by the Directorate of eCitizen, a program run by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
According to Daghar, the eCitizen was gazetted as a Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) which meant that there was enhanced protection.
He further stated that the identification and authentication process for legal entities such as companies and organisations in accessing the authority's services, is normally facilitated through a natural person.
At the beginning of the year, the authority was at the receiving end of criticism over data privacy concerns especially during motor vehicle ownership searches.
NTSA clarified that only essential details were disclosed during these searches. This includes the names of the owners and vehicle specifications.
"The authority complies with all requirements of the Data Protection Act. The motor vehicle copy of records does not reveal the email address, ID number and phone number of registered owners," NTSA stated.
Meanwhile, the committee led by Ndia MP George Kariuki was enquiring on the status of infrastructure at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and the development of mass rapid transit corridors in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
On the matter of JKIA, Daghar revealed that the upgrading of JKIA will be addressed in two ways including the expansion and development of a new Passenger Terminal building (PTB) and all associated facilities.
"The government plans to develop a new Passenger Terminal Building through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement where a private entity shall develop and operate the facility for an agreed period before transferring ownership to Kenya Airports Authority (KAA)," he told the MPs.
He added that other plans include; the regeneration of Terminals 1B and 1C where a new roof will be installed to prevent perennial leakages and the refurbishment of level 2 to cater for international arrivals.
The international airport was also equipped with a 66KV line in collaboration with KAA and Kenya Power to address frequent blackouts.
Daghar on the third issue raised revealed that the Ministry was at liberty to enter and regulate agreements with Mass Rapid Transit System Operators and service providers including companies or owners of Mass Rapid Transit System rolling stock and service providers, Mass Rapid Transit System operators and Mass Rapid Transit System routes.
