Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to the Kenya Water and Sanitation Civil Society Network (KEWASNET) website. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of kewasnet.co.ke and related services, including the Knowledge Sharing Platform, designed to support water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives. By accessing or using our website, you agree to comply with these Terms. If you do not agree, please refrain from using our services. We may update these Terms periodically, and continued use constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

2. User Responsibility

As a user, you are responsible for:

• Providing accurate, current, and complete information when registering or interacting with our services.
• Refraining from engaging in illegal activities, including but not limited to hacking, distributing malware, or violating intellectual property rights.
• Respecting website rules, such as not posting offensive or harmful content, and adhering to community guidelines outlined on the platform.

Failure to comply may result in account suspension or termination.

3. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree to use the website only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe on the rights of others. Prohibited activities include:

• Posting content that is defamatory, obscene, or promotes violence.
• Attempting to interfere with the website’s security or performance (e.g., DDoS attacks).
• Impersonating others or misrepresenting your affiliation with KEWASNET.

Violations may lead to immediate account termination.

4. Intellectual Property Rights

KEWASNET owns all intellectual property rights to the website content, including design, text, logos, and images, unless otherwise stated. These are protected by Kenyan copyright and trademark laws. Users retain ownership of any content they upload (if applicable), such as forum posts or contributions, but grant KEWASNET a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute such content for platform purposes. Unauthorized use of our content is prohibited without prior written consent.

We reserve the right to remove any user content that violates these Terms, and users may request removal by emailing info@kewasnet.co.ke with relevant details.

5. Links to Third-Party Sites

Our website may contain links to third-party sites for your convenience. KEWASNET is not responsible for the privacy policies, or practices of these sites. Your interactions with third-party sites are governed by their terms.

6. Force Majeure Clause

KEWASNET shall not be liable for any delays or failures in performance due to unforeseen events beyond our control, including natural disasters, war, government actions, or internet outages. We will resume services as soon as practicable under such circumstances.

7. Liability Limitation

KEWASNET is not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from website use, including interruptions, data breaches, or loss of content, to the extent permitted by law. Our liability is limited to the amount you have paid us (if any) for services. This limitation does not apply to damages resulting from gross negligence or intentional misconduct by KEWASNET, and all claims must be brought within one year of the incident.

8. Termination Clauses

KEWASNET reserves the right to terminate or suspend your account and access to the website under the following conditions:

• Violation of these Terms, including illegal behavior or misuse of the platform.
• Prolonged inactivity (e.g., no login for 12 consecutive months).
• Engagement in activities that harm the website’s integrity or community.

Termination may occur with or without notice, and you will lose access to uploaded content upon termination unless otherwise required by law.

9. Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute, we encourage parties to first attempt resolution through mediation or arbitration before pursuing legal action. These proceedings will be conducted in Nairobi, Kenya, under the rules of the Kenya Commercial Arbitration and Mediation Centre. If unresolved, disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Kenya, and you agree to waive any objections to such jurisdiction.

10. Cookie Policy

We use cookies to enhance your experience on kewasnet.co.ke, including for analytics and personalization. You can manage cookies through your browser settings or install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on (available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout). Essential cookies cannot be disabled as they are necessary for website functionality.

11. Applicable Laws

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Kenya. Key legal frameworks applicable to kewasnet.co.ke include:

• Kenyan Constitution (2010): Protects freedom of expression and access to information, influencing user rights and content moderation.
• Data Protection Act, 2019: Regulates the collection, processing, and storage of personal data, ensuring compliance with user privacy rights.
• Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018: Prohibits unauthorized access, data interference, and other cybercrimes, forming the basis for user responsibility clauses.
• Copyright Act, 2001: Protects KEWASNET’s intellectual property and governs user-uploaded content usage.

Where applicable, international standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) may influence data handling for users from the European Economic Area (EEA).

12. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms to reflect changes in our services or legal requirements. Updates will be posted here with a revised "Last Updated" date, and significant changes will be communicated via email or a website notice. Continued use after updates signifies acceptance of the new Terms.

13. Contact Us

For questions or concerns about these Terms, contact us at:

Email: info@kewasnet.co.ke

Address: KEWASNET Secretariat, P.O. Box 30725-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

Phone: +254 (705) -530-499