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department?
1.0 Introduction
Data are a set of facts, and provide a partial picture of reality. Whether data are being collected
with a certain purpose or collected data are being utilized, questions regarding what information
the data are conveying, how the data can be used, and what must be done to include more useful
information must constantly be kept in mind. Data must be prepared in such a way they are
Data dissemination is key in implementing and highlighting strict compliance with the mission
of KNBS. Dissemination of data to users for research and other purposes is considered as key
process by KNBS and therefore is timely provided for to the entity requiring the data. The
benefits that area associated with data dissemination includes; Broader access to data enables
replication of important statistics, further research and feedback to KNBS which can help to
improve the quality of data collection and statistical products; data dissemination encourages
diversity of analysis and opinion while promoting new studies; the design of evidence-
based policy and the monitoring of its impact often require more detailed analysis to complement
the statistical products produced by the Bureau; Non-accessibility to data forces users to conduct
their own surveys. Through timely dissemination, KNBS will reduce the risk of duplicated or
competing data collection activities and allowing all users to access the same data and by
reducing duplication of efforts on data collection activities and allowing all users to access the
same data.
For the dissemination of the official data, KNBS has divided its clients into four categories, that
is, government institutions, research and academic institutions, international organizations and
regional development agencies and media and general public. However, there are principle that
KNBS adhered to when disseminating the data to either of the categories. These includes, official
statistics shall be relevant for users; user friendly; comprehensive; and comply with requirements
regarding legislation, confidentiality and quality; official statistics is a public good whose
productions are financed through the state budget; official statistics shall be accurate, reliable,
consistent and comparable; distribution of official statistics shall be impartial and transparent;
Data security and privacy shall be safeguarded; the bureau should endeavor to clarify
misinterpretation of official statistics; statistics releases are announced in advance through the
release calendar and made available to the public via the website and other channels and any
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) is a corporate body established under the Statistics
Act (2006). It is the principal Government agency responsible for the collection, compilation,
analysis, publication and dissemination of official statistical information and its custody. KNBS
is the custodian of official statistical information and is mandated to coordinate all statistical
activities, and the National Statistical System (NSS) in the country. Official statistics are data
produced and disseminated within the scope of the Statistical Programme of the National
The obligation of KNBS include; the director general shall coordinate the overall distribution of
data to external agencies through the use of either data sharing agreements or other dissemination
modes. KNBS shall release data or grant access to data when it is satisfied that all reasonable
steps have been taken into account to safeguard confidential issues. KNBS shall classify data by
their level of sensitivity and risk, taking into account the country’s legal framework on freedom
of information and data protection, contractual agreements, ethical considerations. KNBS shall
Under Vision 2030, KNBS plays a critical role of enabling the Government achieve its medium
and long term development agenda through collection, analysis, publication and dissemination of
reliable statistical information for public use, while at the same time coordinating, monitoring
and supervising the National Statistical System (NSS). KNBS operations is extremely useful in
the monitoring and evaluating of the effectiveness of government performance at all levels of
Statement: To effectively manage and coordinate the entire National Statistical System to
enhance statistical production and utilization. Core Values: KNBS aims at providing quality
statistical and sex disaggregated data which is key to achieving excellence in performance levels
The Central Statistics Department (CSD) is mandated to produce quality, consistent, accurate,
timely, and accessible official statistics. The policy document is one of the efforts being
developed for data dissemination guide lines as mandated in the statistics law. This policy
reflects the wayto achieve excellence in disseminating official statistics to inform decision-
various demographic, social, economic and development programs in the country. This will be
achieved through perfect continuous data collection, analysis of censuses, surveys and use of
The main aim of having policies in place for data access and dissemination policy is to ensure
timely and quality data provision to data users to be achieved through; Provision of a framework
for availing data to the public in conformity with the government’s open data initiative,
Definition of formats in which data can be disseminated in line with the latest technologies,
definition of the nature of data files that will be released, the intended use of these files and
conditions under which the files shall be released and provision of guidelines on the permitted
The policies set by the KNBS in data sharing among the users and government department
covers the following; Micro data and its outputs: This is the data generated through surveys and
censuses at unit level of observation mainly from the household, establishment and individual
levels. Macro data and its outputs: This includes all available information collected and
aggregated from households, firms/institutions. Administrative data: this includes data collected
by public institutions in the course of rendering service to the public. All GIS products: This
The following process and means of sharing the information to the government ministry applies
also to the immigration department. The KNBS makes official statistics available under the terms
of the national and international framework guiding production and dissemination of data. The
Director General approve dissemination of all official statistics before release and ensure
simultaneous release to all users as per the release calendar. Users or customers of statistics (or
market) are either legal or private persons who need the statistics for making work-related
decisions or have an interest in official statistics. Based on the user’s activity, relevance and
relation participation in the production process of statistics, taking statistics to the public, using it
When sharing the information to the government entity, the agency ensures that the data is
widely accessible easily, as well as the commitment to quality improvement of the service
provided to any of the government entity as other interesting party. Access to statistical data is
provided using modern information and communication technology in order to meet user needs
and permit easy access. Recognizing the important needs of users and the importance of timely
data, KNBS shall release datasets for public access or share it with the public at most within a
The KNBS recognizes the benefits of timely dissemination of data to users for research and other
purposes. These benefits include: broader access to data enables replication of important
statistics, further research and feedback to KNBS which can help to improve the quality of data
and opinion while promoting new studies. The design of evidence-based policy and the
monitoring of its impact often require more detailed analysis to complement the statistical
products produced by the Bureau. Non-accessibility to data forces users to conduct their own
surveys. Through timely dissemination, KNBS will reduce the risk of duplicated or competing
data collection activities and allowing all users to access the same data and by reducing
duplication of efforts on data collection activities and allowing all users to access the same data.
The statistics KNBS produces and analyses shall be geared to meet the needs of the general
public, the business community, researchers, politicians economic agents and stakeholders
achieve excellence in provision of timely, reliable and affordable official statistics for informed
decision making in order to maximize the welfare of all Kenyans. This will be achieved through
collection and analysis of censuses, surveys and use of administrative data and timely
1.4 Conclusion
Good quality data and statistics are an essential input to inform policy-making and
decision-taking. Quality data and statistics are crucial for monitoring the country’s medium and
long-term development plans (Vision 2030 and MTPs) and achievements made in various
international commitments such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For surveys and
censuses, data may be released in phases to ensure that the data have been reviewed and
analyzed by the KNBS prior to release. The initial release provide data based on the basic report
Hoyos, R. & Barnes, H. (2012) Analyzing Interview Data; Warwick Institute for Employment
Research