Kenya Embraces Technological Innovation for Accurate Population Data
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Director General (DG) Macdonald Obudho has emphasized the critical role of accurate and timely data in supporting the country’s development agenda.
Speaking through KNBS representative Abdikadir Amin Awes at the Kenya Population and Development Conference (KPDC) 2025 in Nairobi, Obudho highlighted the importance of leveraging advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and geographic information system (GIS) mapping to enhance data collection and integrity.
“We must innovate to overcome the challenges of incomplete and inaccurate data reporting. Technology will allow us to track trends, predict future needs, and ensure that every Kenyan is counted,” Obudho stated.
Obudho also stressed the need for community engagement to build public trust and combat misinformation that has historically led to underreporting during census exercises. “We must involve communities in the process, educate them on the significance of data, and use citizen-driven reporting tools to enhance transparency,” he urged.
Highlighting the importance of demographic data for effective resource allocation under Kenya Vision 2030, Obudho called for stronger innovation to navigate population dynamics and achieve sustainable development.
Professor Alfred Agwanda, Director of Research at the Population Studies and Research Institute (PSRI), echoed these sentiments. He noted that while Kenya has made significant progress in improving fertility data quality, gaps persist in the collection of birth, death, and cause-of-death data. Prof. Agwanda advocated for shifting from relying on health surveys and censuses to vital statistics as the primary source for demographic indicators.
“Vital statistics should now be the principal way we obtain data. First, they are collected periodically, every year. Second, they provide birth, death, and cause-of-death information, which we currently lack from other sources,” he explained.
Prof. Agwanda also pointed to challenges in tracking transnational migration and the lack of a centralized database to monitor individuals who move between countries. Despite these challenges, he acknowledged the progress made by KNBS in providing free data through the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) and the International Public Use Microdata System (IPUMS), which now includes Kenya’s census data from 1969 to 2019.
As the government continues to digitize civil registration and integrate national databases, experts hope that improved data accessibility and reliability will enhance policymaking and development planning. However, concerns over data security, migration tracking, and public access remain key areas for further collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and government agencies.
With stronger research, technological investments, and transparent data systems, Kenya is well-positioned to harness the power of population data for sustainable development.
Source: Kenya News Agency – KNA
