ODW-Data2X Media Fellows: Reporting from #Datafest2026

By Ruth Butaumocho, Winnie Kamau, and Emmanuel Mulenga

The Global Data Festival and Kenya Space Expo & Conference officially commenced in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, attracting a diverse assembly of over 1,000 delegates from across the globe. The opening day underscored critical themes surrounding data reliability, accessibility, and systemic integration.

Better Data for Better lives

Opening the Festival & Expo, the Deputy President of Kenya, Prof Kithure Kindiki, said data has become the currency of change while at the same time deepening the divide between those who own infrastructure and those left at the margins of the other, a development that requires holistic integration.

Jenna Slotin, CEO of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, expressed appreciation to Kenyan hosts and partners, stressing that the festival’s success is built on collaboration and shared vision.

She noted the historic significance of the event being hosted in Africa for the first time, and reflected on its humble beginnings as informal conversations that have grown into a global platform for data innovators.

She concluded by stressing that data must remain people-centred, reminding participants that “every data point represents a person,” and called for meaningful action beyond discussion.

Dr. Wilber Ottichilo, Governor of Vihiga County, emphasized that credible and reliable data is essential for effective planning, decision-making, and service delivery, arguing that governments cannot function efficiently without strong data systems.

He shared that all 47 counties in Kenya now use GIS databases, which have supported evidence-based planning, including improved healthcare access in Vihiga through the strategic placement of new health facilities to reduce travel distances.

Dr. Ottichilo stressed that continuous capacity building, public access to GIS platforms, and citizen engagement are key to transparency and accountability, stressing that “whatever we do, even monitoring and evaluation, we must give evidence.”

Session highlights

The Rise of Citizen-Generated Data

A central theme through the opening ceremony and subsequent side events was the emphasis on Citizen-Generated Data (CGD). Speakers consistently advocated for trustworthy and reliable data, while raising poignant questions regarding the community's role in data validation and the government's responsibility in formalizing these processes. Global examples of CGD in action included:

• Colombia: CGD has been successfully integrated and published on official government platforms.
• Jamaica: Local data helped map hotspots and identify individuals affected by Hurricane Melissa.
• Mozambique: Following disasters such as Cyclone Idai, CGD proved vital in gathering information about victims.

Advocating for Interoperability

The Festival also addressed the issue of data silos. In many regions, including Kenya, different government sectors are working with independent data systems that lack the ability to communicate with one another. This lack of interoperability forces citizens to provide redundant information across various platforms. Delegates suggested a shift toward collaborative efforts to build interoperable data systems that streamline data sharing and enhance service delivery.

Youth and Data for the Next Generation

The session on youth in data strongly emphasized that young people are not just future leaders, but leaders of today. It highlighted that while youth possess strong data-related skills, they are often excluded from leadership and decision-making spaces. The discussion further stressed the need to actively engage young people and fully involve them in data development processes to ensure more inclusive, innovative, and effective outcomes. 

Data Skills for Climate and Agricultural Development

The session with ICON Data and Learning Labs (IDL) and Wrangla360 , focused on promoting data-driven community transformation for sustainable development and turning field data into trusted evidence for decision-making. It emphasized that data quality should not be treated as a technical afterthought, but as a practical, organisation-wide responsibility embedded in all stages of data use.

A key objective was to encourage participants to audit their own data practices and take concrete steps to improve data quality, preventing small errors from escalating into flawed decisions. The discussion was guided by the central question: what is required to build robust data and space systems that support sustainable development?

Still to come

There are two more days to go, with lots of ideas and insights in every session.

More stories coming soon.