On July 9th, 2025, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) hosted a landmark event to launch two transformative frameworks: the Second Kenya Strategy for Development of Statistics (KSDS2) and the National Plan for Advancement of Environmental Economic Accounting (NPAEEA). The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from government, civil society, development partners, and academia, all united by a shared commitment to data-driven development.
Accounting for Nature
The NPAEEA, supported by the Global Program on Sustainability (GPS), introduces a groundbreaking approach to integrating environmental and economic data. It prioritizes the development of six key accounts: energy, water, forest, land, ecosystem, and minerals. These accounts will help Kenya better understand the value of its natural capital and inform policies that balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.
The plan aligns with global frameworks such as the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and Africa’s Agenda 2063. It also supports Kenya’s efforts to track climate change impacts and promote green growth.
The KSDS2 (2023–2028), supported by the World Bank, sets out a bold vision to modernize Kenya’s statistical system. It focuses on four strategic pillars:
- Fostering a data-driven culture for sustainable development.
- Strengthening coordination across the national statistical system.
- Building capacity through training and infrastructure.
- Mobilizing resources to ensure sustainability.
The strategy aims to establish a one-stop center for official statistics, revise the Statistics Act, and launch a national statistical training institute. It also embraces emerging technologies like data science, AI, and machine learning to enhance the production and use of official statistics.
Kenya is a Core Implementing Country (CIC) under the World Bank’s Global Program on Sustainability (GPS). The country is a primary partner in the program, receiving focused and sustained support to integrate sustainability—especially natural capital accounting (NCA) and related policy tools—into its national development planning and decision-making processes.
