Last week, we took the voices from our grassroots communities in Kilifi all the way to Nairobi for the 2025 National Statistics Conference. This was a big moment for us! The whole conference was about how we can use new data tools and innovation to make sure our African societies are just, peaceful, and prosperous.
The event coincided with the celebration of African Statistics Day, a vital reminder that statistics are public goods that guide planning and ensure resources go where they are truly needed. But the big question remains: Who makes sure the data being used is the right data, reflecting the real needs on the ground? That’s where our amazing changemakers and community members, “The Army,” step in!
Taking Kilifi’s Story to the National Stage
Maono Space didn’t go to just listen; we went to share. Our incredible changemakers, Victor Kaudo (Executive Director of Malindi Community Human Rights Centre) and Jecinta Mbeyu (President of Kilifi Youth Assembly and Executive Director of Action for Empowerment), stood on a national platform to show that community-led data is the key to real, sustainable development.
At the conference dinner, our leaders explained their innovation using Sabasi, a simple yet powerful tool for collecting and organising local data.
- The Kilifi Youth Assembly demonstrated how they successfully mapped development projects in all 35 wards of Kilifi County, reaching remote villages that are often missed by traditional surveys.
- They then held community barazas (local meetings) to bring the data back to residents. This critical step allowed everyone to review the information, verify its accuracy, and share their real priorities, from clean water and health services to road infrastructure.
- These verified insights were then presented directly to H.E. Governor Gideon Mung’aro and the full Kilifi County Government leadership team, ensuring the voices from the village level directly shape the county’s major decisions.
Imagine the power of every village being heard! That’s what Citizen-Generated Data is all about, putting the community right at the centre of planning and accountability.
At the Open Institute booth, we proudly showcased the Kilifi Citizen-Generated Data Dashboard, demonstrating a powerful truth: data doesn’t have to be complicated or locked away in government offices. It belongs to the people it serves, in easy-to-read and understand formats
Our Local Data, Our Global Influence
The National Statistics Conference was a crucial stepping stone. It was a prelude to the Global Data Festival, a major international gathering for data-driven change, set to be hosted right here in Nairobi, Kenya, in June 2026.
Our success in getting grassroots data recognised by this national platform proves an undeniable point: When communities lead the data revolution, real, sustainable development follows. Kenya hosting the Global Data Festival means the eyes of the world will be on African data innovation. We are committed to making sure that our local, practical solutions like Sabasi and the Kilifi Citizen-Generated Data Dashboard are not just seen but recognised and adopted across the continent and beyond. We’ve taken Kilifi’s grassroots changemakers’ voice to the national table. Now, we are preparing to take it to the world, as we look forward to the Global Data Festival.
