The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics has conducted a public participation exercise on a new law aimed at modernising data management and aligning Kenya’s statistical practices with the 2010 Constitution and international standards.
The proposed Statistics Bill, 2026 seeks to repeal the current Statistics Act, No. 4 of 2006 (Cap 112), which established the KNBS.
Speaking during the engagement at the Kisii Agricultural Training Centre on the outskirts of Kisii town, KNBS Acting Head of Legal Linda Olweny said the proposed law seeks to devolve the statistics function to enable counties to undertake data collection without any interference.
“One of the provisions in the bill is that we want to establish the County Statistics Offices within the counties to resolve the inconsistencies in county and national data,” Olweny said.
The Head of Legal noted that the reforms will also expand the mandate of KNBS as stipulated in the current Act through the establishment of an Authority from the current KNBS.
She added the Statistics Fund will provide sustainable financing of the statistics function, both at the national and county levels, thereby strengthening planning and resource allocation.
The Bill also seeks to introduce the use of biometric data for population census and other surveys to aid in fair distribution of resources by the government.
Olweny affirmed that KNBS will collate the views of the residents and incorporate them in the national framework that will guide statistical functions within the national and county governments.
The forum brought together residents and officials from Kisii, Nyamira, Homa Bay, Migori, Bomet and Kericho counties.
The residents welcomed the proposed law, saying that it would enhance the functions of the Authority and provide adequate resources for data collection, especially at the county level.
“The use of biometric data for the upcoming population census is a noble idea and we hope it will produce credible and reliable data that can be used to allocate resources within the counties,” said Deborah Nyambane, a representative of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
By Mercy Osongo
