Strathmore University, through @iLabAfrica, has collaborated with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) to make available data and visualisations of key publications specifically: The 2009 Census Report, Economic Survey (Chapter 2&3 from 2001-2014), GDP Report (2001-2014), and select County Statistical data. This has been made possible through funding from The World Bank

“The funding is as a result of a long serving relationship between World Bank and KNBS. This is a very timely project, as information will allow counties to make decisions that are more informed in planning. We are also responding to county governors who need this data to make important decision,” said Philip Jespersen, Senior Social Development Specialist, World Bank.

 

The initiative implements the concept of Open Data whose prime objective is to get the right information to the people who need or want it, in a form that allows them to use it. The launch provided a platform for KNBS and Strathmore University to showcase a Data Visualization Application developed by a team of students from Strathmore University to all invited stakeholders and the media.

 

“We have data dated as early as before the independence, though accurate the data can’t be understood easily. Our data was digitized way back through scanning but still can’t be visualized properly but with the new platform we will be able to make statistics available to Wanjiku. Visualisation makes data easy to understand for all and drives evidence based decision making,” said Mr. Cleophas Kioo, ICT Director, KNBS.

 

Phase one of the project officially commenced on October 21, 2014 after signing of a MoU between Strathmore University and KNBS. This phase was scheduled to end on February 27, 2015. Plans are also underway to kick-start Phase two of this inter- institutional collaboration.

 

The key activities for Phase One were i) Data discovery, extraction, conversion and compilation and upload on KNBS County Data Dissemination Platform; ii) Development of Data Visualisation Applications. These activities were assigned to a team of students from Strathmore University. The execution of these activities was done in consultation with a technical team and subject matter experts from KNBS and with guidance from the Inter-disciplinary and Steering committees.

 

Capacity building for KNBS has been attained through workshops organised by @iLabAfrica Strathmore University. Knowledge transfer has also been achieved through interactions between the Strathmore team and KNBS technical team.

 

Ndiritu Murithi, CEO, Ecocapp Capital and former assistant minister-industrialization, who was also the chief guest, said that as a nation it is time we make decisions based on data.

 

Click here to read more.