Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to us. This policy explains how Pikify collects, uses, and protects your personal information in Kenya.

Last Updated: October 15, 2023

Table of Contents

Important Notice

By using Pikify's services, you agree to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

1. Introduction

Welcome to Pikify. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform to connect with service providers across Kenya.

Pikify ("we," "our," or "us") operates the Pikify platform that connects service providers with customers in Kenya. This policy applies to all users of our website, mobile application, and services (collectively, the "Services").

We comply with the Data Protection Act, 2019 of Kenya and other applicable data protection laws. This policy is designed to help you understand what information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can manage your information.

2. Information We Collect

We collect several types of information to provide and improve our Services to you:

A. Information You Provide Directly

Type of Information Examples Purpose
Account Information Name, email, phone number, password, profile photo Account creation and authentication
Profile Information Service category, skills, experience, rates, location, availability Service matching and provider discovery
Contact Information Address, phone numbers, emergency contacts Service coordination and communication
Payment Information MPESA details, bank information (processed securely by partners) Transaction processing and payment facilitation
Communications Messages, reviews, ratings, support tickets Service quality improvement and dispute resolution
Verification Documents ID copies, certificates, background checks (for providers) Provider verification and safety assurance

B. Information Collected Automatically

When you use our Services, we automatically collect:

  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, features used, search queries
  • Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address or GPS (with permission)
  • Log Information: System activity, hardware settings, crash reports

C. Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

  • Social media platforms when you connect your account
  • Payment processors for transaction verification
  • Background check services for provider verification
  • Advertising and analytics partners

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Service Provision & Operation
To create and maintain your account, connect you with service providers or customers, process transactions, and provide customer support.
Safety & Verification
To verify identities, conduct background checks on service providers, prevent fraud, and ensure platform safety for all users.
Communication
To send service-related notifications, updates, security alerts, and administrative messages. With consent, we may send promotional communications.
Platform Improvement
To analyze usage patterns, develop new features, improve existing services, and personalize your experience.
Legal Compliance
To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or enforceable governmental requests in Kenya.
Research & Analytics
To conduct research, analyze trends, and gather demographic information for internal business purposes.

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information based on: (1) Your consent; (2) Performance of a contract with you; (3) Compliance with legal obligations; (4) Legitimate interests that are not overridden by your data protection rights.

4. Information Sharing & Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

A. Service Connections

  • For Service Providers: Your profile information, skills, and availability are shared with potential customers looking for your services
  • For Customers: Your contact information and service requirements are shared with providers you choose to connect with

B. Service Providers & Partners

We work with trusted third parties who assist us in operating our platform:

  • Payment Processors: MPESA, banks, and other financial institutions to process payments
  • Cloud Services: Hosting providers for data storage and infrastructure
  • Analytics Providers: Tools to analyze platform usage and improve services
  • Communication Services: SMS and email delivery services

C. Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

  • Valid legal process (subpoenas, court orders)
  • Government requests or investigations
  • Protection of our rights, property, or safety
  • Prevention of fraud or illegal activities

D. Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change in ownership.

5. Data Security & Protection

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

Security Measures

  • Encryption: Data in transit is protected using TLS/SSL encryption
  • Access Controls: Strict access controls and authentication mechanisms
  • Regular Audits: Security assessments and vulnerability testing
  • Data Minimization: Collecting only necessary information
  • Employee Training: Privacy and security awareness training for staff

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary:

  • Active Accounts: While your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward
  • Legal Requirements: As required by Kenyan law or regulatory obligations
  • Business Purposes: For legitimate business purposes such as analytics
  • Dispute Resolution: To resolve disputes or enforce agreements

When we no longer need your information, we securely delete or anonymize it.

Security Responsibilities

While we implement robust security measures, no system is 100% secure. You also play a role in protecting your information by using strong passwords, keeping your login credentials confidential, and logging out after using shared devices.

6. Your Rights & Choices

Under Kenyan data protection laws, you have certain rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Access

Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you and how we use it.

Right to Correction

Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information in your account.

Right to Deletion

Request deletion of your personal information in certain circumstances (subject to legal requirements).

Right to Object

Object to processing of your personal information for direct marketing or other purposes.

Right to Portability

Request transfer of your personal information to another service provider where technically feasible.

Right to Restriction

Request restriction of processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 10. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

Marketing Communications

You can opt-out of promotional communications at any time by:

  • Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email
  • Adjusting your notification preferences in your account settings
  • Contacting our support team

7. Cookies & Tracking

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

Types of Cookies We Use

Cookie Type Purpose Duration
Essential Cookies Required for basic site functionality (login, security) Session or persistent
Performance Cookies Collect information about how visitors use our site Persistent (up to 2 years)
Functionality Cookies Remember your preferences and settings Persistent (up to 1 year)
Advertising Cookies Deliver relevant advertisements (with consent) Persistent (up to 1 year)

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

  • Browser Settings: Most browsers allow you to refuse or accept cookies
  • Opt-out Tools: Use opt-out tools provided by advertising networks
  • Do Not Track: Some browsers offer "Do Not Track" features (we currently don't respond to DNT signals)

Note: Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our Services.

8. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18 ("Children"). We do not knowingly collect personal information from Children.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your Child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from Children without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information from our servers.

Service Providers Under 18

Service providers must be at least 18 years old to use our platform. We verify the age of all providers during the registration process.

9. Policy Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of any material changes by:

  • Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
  • Sending an email notification to registered users
  • Displaying a prominent notice on our platform

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Recent Updates

Oct 15, 2023
Updated data retention policies and clarified user rights under Kenyan Data Protection Act
Jun 22, 2023
Added details about third-party service providers and enhanced cookie information
Mar 10, 2023
Initial Privacy Policy publication

10. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Pikify Data Protection Officer

We take your privacy seriously and will respond to your inquiry within 30 days as required by Kenyan law.

Email

privacy@pikify.co.ke

Phone

+254 712 222260 (Privacy Matters Only)

Postal Address

Data Protection Officer
Pikify Kenya Ltd
P.O. Box 12345-00100
Nairobi, Kenya

For general inquiries, please use our Contact Us page.

Consent & Agreement

By using Pikify's Services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to our collection, use, and sharing of your information as described herein.