# Does a clinic need to register with the ODPC?

URL: https://tymirahealth.com/resources/faqs/does-a-clinic-need-to-register-with-the-odpc
For: Executives | Data protection and privacy | Last updated 19 October 2026

**Answer:** Yes. Under Kenya's Data Protection Act 2019 and the 2021 registration regulations, health administration and patient care are purposes that require registration with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC), regardless of a clinic's turnover or staff numbers. Registration certificates last 24 months, so diarise the renewal. Requirements can change, so confirm current rules and fees with the ODPC or a qualified advocate.

### What registration involves

Registration is one part of compliance. It sits alongside the governance steps the ODPC expects from any organisation handling sensitive health data.

- Register your clinic as a data controller and note the renewal date.
- Name a person responsible for data protection, even in a small clinic.
- Keep a simple record of what data you hold, why and for how long.
- Check whether your software vendors are registered as data processors.

This is general information, not legal advice.

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