Effective Date: May 20, 2025
Welcome to FrancisGaitho.com (the “Website”), operated by Francis Gaitho. We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in a safe and responsible manner. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you visit our Website, subscribe to our newsletter, receive article notifications, make donations, or interact with links to our social media pages. By using the Website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the following types of information:
a. Personal Information You Provide
– Newsletter Subscriptions and Notifications:
When you sign up for our newsletter or opt-in for article notifications, we may collect your name, email address, and phone number (optional).
– Donations and Fundraising: When you donate via M-Pesa, PayPal, Cash App, or Bitcoin (BTC), we may collect your name, phone number, email address, payment details (e.g., M-Pesa transaction ID, PayPal email), and any messages you include with your donation.
– Contact and Feedback: If you contact us directly (e.g., via email or contact forms), we may collect your name, email address, phone number, and the content of your message.
b. Automatically Collected Information
– Usage Data: We collect information about your interactions with the Website, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, pages visited, time spent on the Website, and referring URLs.
– Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, analyze Website usage, and deliver personalized content. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.
-Social Media Platforms: If you access our social media pages (e.g., X, Facebook, Instagram) via links on the Website, we do not collect data directly from those platforms. However, those platforms may collect and share data according to their own privacy policies.
– Payment Processors: When you donate via M-Pesa, PayPal, Cash App, or Bitcoin, the respective payment processors may share limited transaction details (e.g., transaction ID, amount, or payer email) with us to confirm your donation.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your information for the following purposes:
– Newsletter and Notifications: To send you newsletters, article updates, and notifications about new content or activism events.
– Fundraising and Operations: To process donations, acknowledge contributions, and fund the Website’s operations, activism, and civic education activities.
– Website Functionality: To improve the Website’s performance, personalize your experience, and analyze usage trends.
– Communication: To respond to your inquiries, feedback, or support requests.
– Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal processes, including Kenya’s Data Protection Act, 201U.
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:
– Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers (e.g., email marketing platforms, payment processors, or website analytics tools) to perform functions like sending newsletters, processing payments, or analyzing Website usage. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide.
– Payment Processors: When you donate via M-Pesa, PayPal, Cash App, or Bitcoin, your payment information is processed by these third-party platforms, which have their own privacy policies. We
only receive limited transaction details necessary to confirm your donation.
– Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information only if required by law, court order, to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of others.
– Social Media Platforms: If you click links to our social media pages, those platforms may collect data based on their privacy policies. We are not responsible for their data practices.
4. Fundraising and Payment Information
To support the Website, activism, and civic education activities, we accept donations via:
– M-Pesa: We collect your phone number and transaction details to verify and acknowledge donations.
– PayPal: We collect your PayPal email and transaction ID to confirm donations.
– Cash App: We collect your Cash App username or transaction details to verify donations.
– Bitcoin (BTC): We collect your wallet address or transaction hash to confirm cryptocurrency donations.
We do not store sensitive payment information (e.g., bank account details or full wallet addresses) on our servers. All payment processing is handled by secure third-party platforms, and we only retain minimal data (e.g., transaction IDs, amounts) for record-keeping and acknowledgment purposes.
5. Your Choices and Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
– Access and Correction: You may request access to or correction of your personal information by contacting us at [insert contact email].
– Unsubscribe: You can opt out of newsletters or notifications by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in our emails or contacting us.
– Cookies: You can disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect Website functionality.
– Data Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal or operational requirements, by contacting us.
– Complaints: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner or another relevant authority.
To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@FrancisGaitho.com . We will respond within the timeframes required by law.
6. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. These include secure servers, encryption for sensitive data, and restricted access to personal information. However, no online platform is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for keeping your account credentials (if applicable) and payment details secure.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, comply with legal obligations, or resolve disputes. For example:
– Newsletter subscriber data is retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
– Donation records are retained for 7 years to comply with financial and tax regulations in Kenya.
– Usage data is retained for up to 12 months for analytics purposes, unless anonymized.
8. International Data Transfers
FrancisGaitho.com is operated from Kenya, but some service providers (e.g., PayPal, email platforms) may process data in other countries, such as the United States or the European Union. We ensure that any international data transfers comply with applicable data protection laws, including using service providers with adequate safeguards (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses under GDPR).
9. Third-Party Links
The Website contains links to third-party websites, such as our social media pages (e.g., X, Facebook, Instagram) and payment platforms (e.g., M-Pesa, PayPal, Cash App). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.
10. Children’s Privacy
The Website is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will delete it promptly. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us at info@FrancisGaitho.com .
11. Changes To This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or Website features. We will notify you of significant changes by posting the updated policy on the Website and updating the “Effective Date” above. Your continued use of the Website after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
Email: [info@FrancisGaitho.com]
We are committed to addressing your concerns promptly and in accordance with applicable laws.