Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has challenged Africa countries to invest heavily in modern data systems, warning that governments that fail to build strong and reliable data infrastructure risk being left behind in the rapidly evolving digital age.
Speaking on Tuesday during the opening of the Global Data Festival 2026 in Nairobi , Prof Kindiki said quality data had become the backbone of development planning, service delivery and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).
He said Kenya was making significant investments in the collection, management and protection of local data to ensure it remains secure, reliable and useful in driving the country’s socio-economic transformation agenda.
“Data is the epicentre of sustainable development. Even in this era of Artificial Intelligence, it carries added weight because it is the foundation on which the new intelligence will be built,” said Kindiki.
The second in command cautioned that weak or incomplete data systems could undermine development efforts and create inequalities that would be replicated through technologies built on such data.
“A weak data system, or one that leaves people out, will hand those same weaknesses and exclusions to everything constructed on top of it,” he added.
The Deputy President said governments must stop treating data as a secondary tool and instead recognise it as critical infrastructure alongside roads, hospitals, schools and power networks.
“We have to stop seeing data as merely useful and start treating national data systems as core development infrastructure. Roads, power lines, hospitals and schools are visible in a way data systems are not, yet data systems determine whether every one of those other investments is properly planned, targeted and improved,” he said.
Prof Kindiki highlighted several initiatives being undertaken by the Kenyan government to strengthen the country’s digital ecosystem.
“These include the digitisation of government services, expansion of public digital infrastructure, investment in internet connectivity, promotion of digital skills, development of artificial intelligence capabilities, cybersecurity enhancement and improved data governance frameworks,” he noted.
According to the Deputy President, these initiatives have laid a strong foundation for the creation of reliable, interoperable and secure data systems capable of supporting economic growth and improving public service delivery.
He noted that as governments increasingly adopt technology-driven solutions, access to accurate and timely data would become even more important in decision-making processes.
Kindiki at the same time also urged African nations to take ownership of their data resources and build systems that reflect the realities, priorities and aspirations of their people.
He warned against overreliance on foreign-generated data and technological solutions, saying the continent risked creating a new form of dependence if it failed to develop its own data capabilities.
“Africa must invest in its own data capabilities to ensure that the intelligence powering future development is rooted in our realities and priorities rather than merely consuming intelligence produced elsewhere from data that does not reflect our context otherwise, we risk creating a new form of dependency one that wears a more sophisticated and technologically advanced face.”he noted.
Prof Kindiki further called for increased investment in national and local data systems to strengthen development planning and improve service delivery across the continent.
He said county and local governments should be empowered with stronger data collection and management systems to ensure national policies and development programmes accurately reflect the needs of communities.
“We have to strengthen county and local data systems so that national planning reflects the actual realities of our communities,” he said.
However he further urged development partners to align their support with country-owned systems to reduce fragmented reporting requirements that often place unnecessary burdens on governments and institutions.
The DP emphasized the need to build inclusive data ecosystems that protect privacy, strengthen public trust and safeguard national sovereignty while ensuring that future generations benefit from the growing digital economy.
