Kenya is hosting the first African edition of the Global Data Festival, running concurrently with the Kenya Space Expo and Conference 2026 in Nairobi, to promote the use of data and space technologies for sustainable development.

• Over 1,000 participants from more than 60 countries are attending.
• Key figures include Dr Macdonald Obudho, Director General of the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, and Jenna Slotin, CEO of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data.
• The event emphasizes how disaggregated data, like the Time Use Survey, reveals inequalities and informs policies, with an estimated $32 return on every $1 invested in data systems.