Investigating the impact of Kenya’s open data initiative on marginalised communities

Abstract

Aspects of the Kenyan Open Data Initiative (KODI, 2011) are reflected in objectives of this study: to investigate the landscape of open data and its impacts in lives of Kenyan people, particularly those in marginalised areas. The study was conducted in two urban slums and a rural settlement. Findings show there is a mismatch between the data citizens demand and the data the Kenya portal and other intermediaries have provided. Most people go to local information intermediaries instead of government data portals. Crucial to success and sustainability is attention to local contexts when designing and implementing open data initiatives.