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Rose pursued her interests in law and technology while studying in Australia. Today, she is a dual registered lawyer, and a privacy and data protection expert shaping the future of Kenya’s digital economy.
Watch the video and read Rose’s story below.
Becoming a lawyer has always been a dream of mine, ever since I was 12 years old.
When I chose law for my undergraduate program, I faced some skepticism at home as it was always assumed that I would be a doctor, given that a large number in my family had chosen that path. But I pursued my dream, forged my own path and now my family is quite supportive of my career choices.
I pursued my undergraduate and masters in very diverse fields.
I chose Law for my undergraduate degree; International Law Security as my first master’s degree; and Policing, Intelligence, and Counterterrorism with a focus on Cybersecurity as my second degree.
Studying in Australia allowed me to build a career path in both law and cybersecurity simultaneously. It also provided me with a world-class academic experience and an opportunity to be part of an inclusive and culturally diverse student community.
Building social and professional networks throughout my studies was encouraged and those networks are still important now that I’m back in Kenya.
My Australian experience pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and try new things beyond my studies. I developed a great love for the outdoors (hiking became a favourite hobby), and I also tried surfing!
My varied academic studies, extensive research, and knowledge of different sectors enabled me to steer my career from law into tech and onto data protection services.
I am currently the Deputy Data Commissioner at the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
My job involves regulating Kenyan people’s rights to privacy and overseeing regulation compliance by companies and individuals when they are managing other people's data.
The knowledge and industry experience I have gained because of my Australian education, has helped my career grow from strength to strength. From practicing law in Australia and Kenya to my work today supporting the growth of Kenya’s digital landscape.