As a consultancy firm specializing in legal, governance and corporate services, Akira Consult Ltd is committed to helping businesses of all sizes navigate the complex regulatory landscape and minimize any legal and reputational risk that may distract from the business competing effectively in the ever changing business environment.
In today’s hyper-digital business environment, technology is not just an operational enabler—it is a core governance issue. Boards are being forced to think beyond strategy and financial oversight and pay closer attention to technology risks, digital ethics, cyber resilience and data stewardship.
This is where Technology Governance comes in.
Technology Governance is the framework through which organisations align technology decisions with strategy, manage tech-related risks, ensure regulatory compliance, and protect organisational reputation. It blends digital literacy with governance discipline—ensuring that technology accelerates organisational growth without compromising trust.
And right at the centre of this shift is an unexpected but powerful player:
The Company Secretary.
The Evolving Role of the Company Secretary in a Digital Era
Traditionally viewed as the custodian of compliance, the modern Company Secretary (CS) is evolving into a strategic advisor on emerging technologies, ethics and reputational oversight.
They now serve as a bridge linking the Board with rapidly changing digital realities—and in many organisations, the CS is becoming one of the earliest adopters or innovators of governance-supporting technologies.
Where the CS also has a legal background, their influence multiplies. They are uniquely positioned to translate legal, compliance and technological obligations into sound governance frameworks and first-line defence mechanisms for the Board.
The Regulatory Landscape: What Boards Must Pay Attention To
Technology Governance is anchored in a growing body of digital and data-related laws. In Kenya, some of the key statutes shaping boardroom conversations include:
Yet, while compliance is local, boards benchmark globally. International frameworks such as OECD Principles (2023), King IV IT Governance Principles (Now King V), COSO ERM, ISO 27001, NIST, COBIT, and the IFC CG Methodology continue to shape governance best practice and Board expectations.
Tech Risks the Board Can No Longer Ignore
Technology brings value, but it also introduces multi-layered risks that Boards must understand. These include:
Boards rely on the CS to surface these risks and help structure responses.
Where the Company Secretary Adds Real Value
The CS can play a crucial role in strengthening Technology Governance through:
This is no longer administrative work—it is strategic governance leadership.
What the Future of Tech Governance Looks Like
Boards of the future will not only be tech-aware—they will be tech-enabled. We can expect:
This shift demands Company Secretaries who are adaptive, digitally fluent, and globally informed.
Final Thoughts
Technology Governance is no longer a niche topic—it is now a defining feature of effective corporate stewardship. As organisations embrace digital transformation, the Company Secretary is emerging as the steady hand guiding Boards through regulatory uncertainty, technological opportunity and digital risk.
In many ways, the CS is becoming the Board’s most important technology governance ally.