The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has reaffirmed its role as the country’s principal custodian of official statistical information, highlighting its mandate, infrastructure and strict data quality standards in the Economic Survey 2025.
Established under the Statistics Act, Cap 112 of the Laws of Kenya (Revised 2022), KNBS is a State Corporation whose mandate is anchored in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. The Bureau is responsible for collecting, analysing and disseminating statistical data, while also coordinating the National Statistical System (NSS) across government and other data-producing institutions.
According to the Act, KNBS plans, authorises, coordinates and supervises all official statistical programmes in the country. It also sets standards, ensures best practices in data production, conducts the Population and Housing Census every ten years, and carries out other censuses and surveys as determined by its Board.
The Bureau further maintains a comprehensive national socio-economic database, develops and manages sampling frames, collaborates with county governments and other institutions in producing official statistics, and provides technical advice on statistical matters to state entities. In addition, KNBS designates statistics produced within the national statistical system as official once set criteria are met.
To support its nationwide operations, KNBS has established County Statistical Offices in all 47 counties, which serve as data collection centres. The Bureau also operates multiple sampling frames and databases to support censuses, surveys and socio-economic analysis. Data collection is conducted on monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual cycles, alongside ad hoc surveys targeting specific indicators.
Among its key statistical products are the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Leading Economic Indicators Report, Quarterly Gross Domestic Product (GDP) releases, Producer Price Index (PPI), Balance of Payments reports, the Annual Economic Survey, Statistical Abstracts and County Statistical Abstracts. These products support evidence-based decision-making at both national and county levels.
KNBS also supplies data to local and international organisations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, United Nations agencies, COMESA, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the East African Community (EAC). Its data is critical for monitoring Kenya’s development agenda and tracking internationally agreed indicators such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Economic Survey is one of the Bureau’s flagship annual publications, providing socio-economic information over a five-year period. The report covers all sectors of the economy based on the Kenya Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (KESIC), while also addressing emerging topical issues.
KNBS notes that statistics published in the Economic Survey adhere to internationally accepted scientific methods and the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics. To ensure quality, the Bureau applies 11 key data quality dimensions, including relevance, accuracy, reliability, timeliness, punctuality, accessibility, clarity, coherence, consistency, methodological soundness and integrity.
The Bureau reports that relevance is achieved through sound methodologies and appropriate data collection techniques, while accuracy and reliability are ensured through rigorous quality control, verification of data sources and disclosure of sampling and non-sampling errors. Timeliness and punctuality are addressed by publishing the Economic Survey within 150 days after the end of the review year, with the target release date set for April 30 annually.
Accessibility and clarity are enhanced through dissemination via the KNBS website, publications, press releases, social media platforms, and physical copies available at the KNBS library and county offices. To promote coherence and consistency, the Bureau uses standardised definitions, methodologies and uniform table formats to allow comparison across time and data sources.
Data used in the Economic Survey is drawn from a wide range of sources, including KNBS surveys and censuses, studies by other institutions, and administrative records from ministries, departments, agencies, county governments and private establishments. All data sources are duly acknowledged.
In carrying out its mandate, KNBS is guided by its vision of “Quality statistics for better lives” and its mission to “provide, manage and promote quality statistics through utilization of best practices for public use.” Its core values include professionalism, integrity, confidentiality, customer focus, innovation and teamwork.
The Bureau maintains that adherence to these principles is essential to sustaining public trust and ensuring that official statistics continue to inform policy, planning and development in Kenya.
Three including an infant drown in separate incidents in Nairobi, Eldama Ravine and Malindi
