East Africa will soon have a data sharing centre that will help to accelerate generation, analysis, management and archival of scientific data to support its development plans.

The standard reports that the Centre will be based at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology who will partner with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Committee on Data for Science and Technology ( CODATA) and the United Nations.

According to  ICT Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred. Matiang’I, the centre will facilitate creation of people-centric, inclusive, open and development oriented information society where people can create, access, utilise and share information and knowledge.

“There is a clear demand for new data sets, manifested by the recent upsurge of request,” said Matiangi.

In his speech Matiang’i at the United Nations Offices where he opened an international workshop on open data for science and sustainability in developing economies

Matiangi also said that the government will be tabling a draft legislation on access to information and data protection in parliament that will guide collection and management of information in Kenya.

While speaking at the same event JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mabel Imbuga said Kenya is yet to draw useful insights from such data due to knowledge gaps and inadequate infrastructure despite large data sets permeating various sectors of the economy.

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