The Future of Devolution is Citizen-Led
Citizens in Kilifi met with their Governor and his cabinet to present their needs - with data.
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Kilifi’s Journey to Community-Led Accountability
Over the past year, Kilifi County has emerged as a shining example of how communities, civil society, and government can come together to use data for meaningful change. With support from the Open Institute and through partnerships with youth-led community-based organisations, such as Kilifi Youth Assembly (KIYA) and the Maono changemaker network, citizens in Kilifi…
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Building Inclusive Data Systems in Kenya: From Dialogue to Action
What happens when people are invisible in the numbers? When communities are omitted from datasets that shape national policy? When stories that are rich, complex, urgent are reduced to a footnote or not recorded at all? In Kenya, where 2.2% of the population — over 1 million people — are recorded as having a disability,…
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We Each Hold a Piece. Let’s Build the Full Picture — Together
By Florence Syevuo and Al Kags At a recent breakfast gathering in Nairobi, we asked each person who walked into the room to take a single puzzle piece. No explanation. No picture of the final image. Just that small fragment, handed over with a quiet challenge. As the morning unfolded, something wonderful happened. Strangers began…
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More Openness, Not Less: Why We Must Defend Transparency in a Shrinking Civic Space
In recent years, the global civic space has been shrinking at an alarming rate. Governments are cutting budgets, laying off staff, and scaling back initiatives that support openness, transparency and accountability. At the same time, restrictions on civil society, the media, and digital freedoms are making it harder for citizens to access information, engage with…
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Advancing Data Governance in East Africa: EA Data Governance Conference 2025
The East Africa Data Governance took place on 26th and 27th February 2025, calling for collaboration to advance data governance in East Africa.
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Emerging Issues in Civic Tech: Reflections from CTIF 2024
The Civic Tech Innovation Forum 2024 opened up fresh perspectives on the interplay between technology, data, and governance across Africa. Themed “Under The Hood”, it caused civil society players to reflect on the relationship between self, community and tech while looking under the hood, underneath the surface of our work, our communities and the technology…
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Nandi County’s Data-Driven Revolution: A Model for Effective Service Delivery
For years, the Open Institute has worked diligently to guide counties towards more effective, data-centred decision-making. Our focus has been on equipping local governments with essential tools and expertise, ensuring better resource allocation, stronger policies, and improved public services. In the last two and a half years, our partnership with Nandi and Kilifi counties has…
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A Collaborative Future for Journalism: Unveiling the Media Centre at Maono Space
The Media Council of Kenya (MCK) partnered with the Open Institute to launch the first media centre in Kilifi County! Launched at the Maono Space in Malindi in March 2024, the Maono Media Hub aims to support the production of high-quality content and provide journalists with a conducive working environment. Supporting Journalists Countrywide Established in…
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