Privacy Policy

Important Notice
This Privacy Policy applies to all users of the Oculars Kenya website at www.ocularskenya.co.ke. By accessing or using the platform, you agree to the collection and use of information as described in this policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the website.

  1. Introduction
    Oculars Kenya (“we”, “us”, or “our”) is a web-based platform dedicated to the digital dissemination of artworks and museum content. We are developed and operated by Christopher Denzel Mutethia under the Institute of Social Communication, Tangaza University, Nairobi, Kenya.
    We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and what rights you have in relation to it.
    This policy applies to all information collected through our website (www.ocularskenya.co.ke), including any related services, virtual galleries, exhibitions, newsletters, and interactive features offered through the platform.
  2. Who We Are

Category Details
Platform Name Oculars Kenya
Website www.ocularskenya.co.ke
Project Lead Christopher Denzel Mutethia
Institution Institute of Social Communication, Tangaza University
Location Nairobi, Kenya
Supervisor Mr. Timothy Ojore
Contact Email ocularskenya@gmail.com
Established 2026

  1. Information We Collect
    We collect different types of information depending on how you interact with the platform. This falls into two broad categories:

3.1 Information You Provide Directly
• Name and email address when you subscribe to our newsletter or create an account.
• Contact details when you reach out via our contact form or contribute content.
• Biographical and artistic information if you register as an artist or contributor on the platform.
• Comments, feedback, and forum contributions you voluntarily submit.
• Images, artworks, or written materials you upload or submit for publication.

3.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit Oculars Kenya, certain information is collected automatically through cookies and similar tracking technologies:
• IP address and approximate geographical location.
• Browser type, device type, and operating system.
• Pages visited, time spent on each page, and navigation paths.
• Referring website or search engine used to reach the platform.
• Date and time of your visit.

3.3 Information from Third Parties
• If you connect via social media (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter), we may receive basic profile information.
• Analytics data from tools such as Google Analytics to help us understand how users interact with the platform.

What We Do NOT Collect
Oculars Kenya does not collect sensitive personal data such as financial information, payment card details, national identification numbers, biometric data, or health information. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 13.

  1. How We Use Your Information
    We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Category Details
Platform Operation To run, maintain, and improve the Oculars Kenya website and its features.
User Communication To respond to your enquiries, send newsletters, and provide platform updates.
Content Personalisation To tailor gallery recommendations and exhibition content to your interests.
Analytics & Research To understand how users engage with the platform and improve the experience.
Community Building To support artist profiles, forum discussions, and cultural collaboration.
Legal Compliance To comply with applicable Kenyan law and any legal obligations.
Security To detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, abuse, or technical issues.
Educational Purposes To support our mission of informal education and cultural heritage preservation.

  1. Legal Basis for Processing
    Under the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019, we process your personal data on the following legal grounds:
    • Consent — where you have given clear consent for us to process your data for a specific purpose (e.g. newsletter subscription).
    • Legitimate Interests — where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests in operating a cultural education platform, provided these are not overridden by your rights.
    • Legal Obligation — where we are required to process your data to comply with applicable law.
    • Contractual Necessity — where processing is necessary to fulfil a service you have requested (e.g. artist registration).
  2. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
    Oculars Kenya uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to enhance your experience. We use the following types of cookies:

Category Details
Essential Cookies Required for the website to function. Cannot be disabled. These include session cookies and security tokens.
Analytics Cookies Help us understand how visitors use the site (e.g. Google Analytics). Data is anonymised where possible.
Preference Cookies Remember your settings such as language, region, and display preferences.
Social Media Cookies Enable sharing of content to social platforms. Set by third-party providers (Facebook, Instagram, X).

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the platform. For more information on managing cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

  1. How We Share Your Information
    We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

7.1 Service Providers
We may share data with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating the platform, including:
• Web hosting and cloud infrastructure providers.
• Email marketing platforms (e.g. Mailchimp or Substack) for newsletter delivery.
• Analytics providers (e.g. Google Analytics).
• Social media platforms where you choose to share content.
All service providers are contractually obligated to keep your information confidential and use it only for the purposes specified.

7.2 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law, court order, or government authority, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Oculars Kenya, its users, or the public.

7.3 Academic & Institutional Purposes
As a project developed at Tangaza University, anonymised and aggregated data may be shared with the Institute of Social Communication for academic research and reporting purposes. No personally identifiable information will be shared in this context.

We Do Not Sell Your Data
Oculars Kenya does not and will never sell, lease, or monetise your personal data to advertisers, data brokers, or any commercial third parties. The platform is ad-free and user data is never used for commercial profiling.

  1. Data Retention
    We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law.

Category Details
Account Data Retained for the duration of your account. Deleted within 30 days of account closure.
Newsletter Data Retained until you unsubscribe. Removed within 14 days of unsubscription request.
Contact Form Data Retained for 12 months after the enquiry is resolved.
Analytics Data Aggregated and anonymised data retained for up to 26 months.
Uploaded Content Retained as long as it remains published. Removed upon request or content takedown.
Legal/Compliance Data Retained for up to 7 years as required under Kenyan law.

  1. Your Rights Under the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019
    As a data subject under the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Access
You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification
You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”)
You have the right to request that we delete your personal data, subject to certain legal exceptions.
Right to Restrict Processing
You have the right to request that we limit the way we use your data under certain circumstances.
Right to Data Portability
You have the right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
Right to Object
You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data for direct marketing or on grounds relating to your particular situation.
Right to Withdraw Consent
Where processing is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.

How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of the above rights, please contact us at: ocularskenya@gmail.com We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. There is no charge for exercising your rights, except in cases of manifestly unfounded or excessive requests.

  1. Children’s Privacy
    Oculars Kenya is designed as an inclusive cultural platform suitable for all ages. However, we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 without verifiable parental or guardian consent.
    If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at ocularskenya@gmail.com. We will promptly delete such information from our records.
    For users between the ages of 13 and 18, we encourage parental guidance when using the platform and submitting any personal information.
  2. Data Security
    We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
    • Secure HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted to and from the website.
    • Access controls limiting who can access personal data within our team.
    • Regular security reviews and platform updates.
    • Secure storage of any personal data collected through forms or account registration.

However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a data breach that is likely to result in a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) as required by law.

  1. Third-Party Links & Social Media
    The Oculars Kenya platform may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, and external resources such as museum websites, artist portfolios, and educational institutions. This Privacy Policy applies solely to our platform.
    We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external websites you visit through links on our platform.
    Social media sharing buttons (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, WhatsApp) may be present on the platform. If you click these buttons, the relevant social media platform may collect data about you in accordance with their own privacy policies.
  2. International Users & Data Transfers
    Oculars Kenya is hosted and operated primarily in Kenya. If you are accessing the platform from outside Kenya, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in Kenya or other countries where our service providers operate.
    By using the platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection rules. We take steps to ensure that any such transfers comply with applicable data protection law and that your data remains adequately protected.
  3. Changes to This Privacy Policy
    We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make material changes, we will:
    • Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this document.
    • Post a notice on the Oculars Kenya homepage informing users of the update.
    • Where required by law, seek your consent before applying material changes.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information. Continued use of the platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

  1. Complaints & Regulatory Authority
    If you believe that Oculars Kenya has not handled your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy or the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC):

Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) — Kenya
Website: www.odpc.go.ke Email: info@odpc.go.ke Address: Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya We would, however, appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns directly before you approach the ODPC. Please contact us first at ocularskenya@gmail.com.

  1. Contact Us
    If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal information, please contact us:

Category Details
Platform Oculars Kenya
Website www.ocularskenya.co.ke
Email ocularskenya@gmail.com
Project Lead Christopher Denzel Mutethia
Institution Institute of Social Communication, Tangaza University
Address Tangaza University, Nairobi, Kenya
Response Time We aim to respond to all privacy-related enquiries within 30 days.

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