TAQA Privacy Policy.

TAQA is a mobile and web application built by Sikika Softwares Limited for garbage collection businesses to manage households, send bills, and receive payments. This policy explains what information TAQA collects, from whom, and how it is used, for both the garbage collection business ("operator") that runs an account and the households and customers that operator bills.

Information We Collect

To operate customer ledgers, billing, and collections, TAQA may collect:

• Operator and staff account information (name, phone number, email, role)
• Household and customer records added by an operator (name, phone number, address or collection point, billing plan)
• Billing and ledger data (invoices, receipts, balances, arrears, and payment history)
• Payment transaction details processed through M-Pesa and other supported payment channels
• Messages sent through the app, such as bill notices and payment reminders
• Device and usage information (device type, app version, log data, crash reports)
• Approximate location, only where an operator uses route or collection-point features

Household and customer information is submitted to TAQA by the operator that provides the garbage collection service, not collected by us directly from those households.

How We Use Information

The information collected is used to:

• Create and maintain customer ledgers for each household
• Generate and send invoices, bills, and receipts
• Process and reconcile payments, including M-Pesa collections
• Send SMS or in-app notifications and payment reminders
• Produce arrears, collections, and financial reports for the operator
• Maintain, secure, and improve the TAQA app and platform
• Provide customer support to operators and troubleshoot issues

Data Protection

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures, including encrypted connections and access controls, to protect information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. Access to customer and billing data is limited to the operator that owns the account and authorized Sikika personnel who support the platform.

Third-Party Services

TAQA may integrate with third-party services including:

• M-Pesa and other mobile money or payment providers, to process and confirm payments
• SMS gateway providers, to deliver bills and reminders
• Cloud hosting and infrastructure providers, to store and run the application
• Crash reporting and analytics tools, to diagnose issues and improve reliability

These providers process only the data necessary to perform their function and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes.

Data Sharing

We do not sell personal information. Data may only be shared:

• Within an operator's own account, with the staff that operator authorizes
• With payment providers such as M-Pesa, as needed to complete a transaction
• With authorized service providers who support hosting, messaging, or analytics for TAQA
• When required by law, regulation, or a valid legal process

Data Retention

Billing, ledger, and payment records are retained for as long as an operator's account is active, and for a reasonable period afterward to meet accounting, tax, and legal obligations. Operators can request deletion of records they no longer need, subject to those obligations.

Children's Privacy

TAQA is intended for business use by garbage collection operators and their staff and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18.

Your Rights and Data Deletion

Users and household customers may request:

• Access to information held about them
• Correction of inaccurate information
• Deletion of their account or personal data, where applicable and subject to legal record-keeping requirements

To make a request, contact us using the details below or ask the operator managing your household account, since they control the underlying records.

Contact Information

Sikika Softwares Limited
Website: https://sikika-ke.co.ke
Email: kevin@sikika-ke.co.ke
Phone: +254 722 230 603

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be published on this page with a revised effective date.