The government has proposed a new system that will see selected non-personal data collected through eCitizen and other State organs packaged and sold to businesses, researchers and organisations through a State-run platform.
The move is part of a wider policy aimed at recognising data as a national asset and using it to generate additional revenue.
The plan, outlined in the National Data Governance Policy developed by the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, also seeks to strengthen data protection systems while also opening the door for monetisation of public sector information.
Under the proposal, a new agency will be created to bring together data from different State organs and oversee how it is sold through a national marketplace. The National Data Governance and Emerging Technologies Council will be tasked with enabling the sale of at least 1,000 datasets over the next five years, a move expected to boost government revenue.
Data collected by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and other State organs during the execution of their mandates will also be included in the system and made available to businesses, researchers, NGOs and innovators.
The proposed datasets include non-personal information drawn from eCitizen, such as the number of businesses, demand trends for government services, passport and immigration application volumes by region, birth, death and marriage registration trends, vehicle registration statistics and land transaction volumes. Other datasets the government is looking to monetise include traffic flow data and crop production figures by region.
The policy makes clear that personal data will not be included in the marketplace. This includes names, phone numbers, email addresses, identification numbers and images, which will remain protected under Kenya’s data protection laws.
“Establish a national marketplace for the lawful exchange of non-personal, anonymised and aggregated datasets in the public sector, private sector, research institutions, and civil society,” the ministry said in the policy proposal.
“The marketplace shall define clear licensing models, pricing tiers, including free access for public good uses and transparent revenue treatment for government data.”
The government said the digital platform is expected to cost up to Sh396 million to develop and operate over five years, but is projected to generate higher returns once fully operational.
While the ministry has not listed specific datasets to be prioritised for monetisation, it notes that various State departments already hold large volumes of data that can be anonymised and commercially used.
“The proliferation of sector-specific and government digital services, including eCitizen, has generated massive data volumes across public and private sectors,” reads the draft policy.
Officials argue that treating data as a commercial asset will unlock new economic opportunities and allow citizens to benefit indirectly from data generated through everyday use of government services.
“The recognition of data as a national strategic asset would foster a trusted, regulated data market to unlock economic opportunities and societal benefits,” the policy adds.
To manage the system, the ministry is also proposing the establishment of a Data Governance Office, which will work alongside the council to implement the broader framework.
The proposal comes at a time when data is increasingly being viewed globally as a key economic resource, with experts often describing it as “the new oil”.
Recent studies cited in policy discussions suggest that large technology firms such as Google and Meta generate up to Sh20 million from data linked to each internet user globally, highlighting the value of information generated online.
Across the world, governments are already building systems to monetise public data. Singapore operates one of the most advanced models, offering some datasets for free while charging for others, such as real estate development trends.
The United Kingdom also operates a similar framework through Ordnance Survey, which earns more than Sh34 billion annually from selling State-owned geospatial data to private sector developers.
In Africa, Kenya could become one of the first countries to formally roll out such a structured data marketplace.
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