Kenya National Bureau of Statistics held a workshop on microdata outreach and advocacy. The two-day activity themed Bringing together users and producers of data, aimed at emphasizing collaboration between users and producers of data.
A Microdata Outreach and Advocacy workshop offers a unique opportunity for data producers to promote users’ awareness of data availability, increase their capacity to use data, and encourage users to improve production and management of their data. This collaboration is an effort to identify appropriate dissemination systems, which will guarantee data users seamless availability of data, and in a variety of platforms to meet their needs.
While giving the key note address, Mr. Chege Muchiri, Ag. Director of Administration at the Ministry of Devolution and Planning (State Department of Planning) reiterated the right of citizens to information, as supported by the Constitution. In keeping with this constitutional provision, “it is imperative that all players in data production should always aim at safeguarding the right to information”.
KNBS dissemination systems have evolved from traditional to digital methods. The Bureau has partnered with development partners to develop and customize available global platforms to suit Kenyan standards. Such partnership has resulted in Keninfo, Kenya Data portal systems, supported by UNICEF Kenya Country Office and African Development Bank (AfDB). Through facilitation by UNFPA, KNBS shares data with the public through the Integrated Multi-Sectoral Information System (IMIS). The International Household Surveys Network (IHSN) developed the Kenya National Data Archive (KeNADA). The Bureau is also in partnership with Information Communication and Technology Authority (ICTA). “All these efforts are meant to respond to the Mandate of KNBS, the Constitution of Kenya, Kenya Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Statistics Act, 2006” KNBS Director General, Zachary Mwangi said.
Participants included KNBS, PARIS21, Digital Divide Data, Institute of Economic Affairs, World Bank, KIPPRA, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Civil Registration Department, University of Nairobi and African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC).