By Esther Njagi, Open Institute and Sharlene Muthuri, Amnesty International Kenya Amnesty International Kenya (AIK) and Open Institute (OI) have collaborated since 2020 to advance data governance, data protection, and privacy rights across Kenya and the wider region. Our joint work bridges the gap between data for development and data for human rights, demonstrating that…
Read article
Next week, policymakers, technologists, regulators, journalists, civil society leaders, and innovators will gather in Nairobi for the East Africa Data Governance Conference 2026. Over two days, participants from across the region will engage in one central question: How can East Africa advance innovation and digital transformation while safeguarding rights, trust, and accountability? This year’s theme, “Navigating Duality in…
Read article
In 2019, Kenya launched the first Kenya Strategy for the Development of Statistics (KSDS I) – our first attempt to organise how the nation produces, manages, and uses official statistics. It promised four things: a stronger national data system, better quality, smarter investments in people and technology, and wider use of data by citizens. Six…
Read article
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,…
Read article
The East Africa Data Governance took place on 26th and 27th February 2025, calling for collaboration to advance data governance in East Africa.
Read article
In partnership with Amnesty International, we embarked on an ambitious journey to strengthen data governance in Kenya and across East Africa. Central to this mission has been the #FichaUchi Campaign, a multi-phase initiative aimed at raising awareness about data privacy and protection in East Africa. From its inception in 2021 the campaign has evolved significantly.…
Read article
With technology advancing and data becoming key for decision making, East Africa is in need of a strong governance framework to balance the use of data with privacy, ethics, and security. To address this, the Open Institute in collaboration with Amnesty International Kenya will be hosting the East Africa Data Governance Conference on November 26-27,…
Read article
What it takes to Transform Governance Through Data Systems in our experience. Statistical systems—whether from government agencies or non-state actors—form the backbone of a democratic society’s information ecosystem. These systems generate the essential data that shapes economic policies, demographic strategies, and decisions on social and environmental issues. Reliable and accessible data is not merely a…
Read article
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…
Read article
By Loise Mboo & Al Kags The vibrant city of Kigali became the epicentre of Africa’s data future last week as we joined thought leaders, innovators, and policymakers at the Innovate Africa Symposium. We engaged in powerful discussions for two and a half days exploring how data shapes the continent’s development. From economic growth and…
Read article
📅 Dates: November 25 & 26, 2024
📍 Location: Nairobi, kenya
Unlock the future of data governance with industry leaders, insightful sessions, and networking opportunities!
