Big Data adoption in official statistics in Kenya: Challenges, opportunities and determinants

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Moturi, Christopher A.^* | Wairimu, Allan Gathuru

Affiliations: Department of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Christopher A. Moturi, Department of Computing and Informatics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: The data revolution has increased data demands for leveraging on Big Data in the production of statistics. The paper assesses the adoption of Big Data in research institutes in Kenya. Data were collected from 64 data practitioners based in the 24 research institutes that have a mandate to produce and analyse official statistics. The paper establishes the risks and challenges of using Big Data in statistics, identifies the determinants of adoption of Big Data in statistics and validates the relevance of a Technology Adoption Model (TAM) for predicting the adoption. It is the conclusion that there are immense opportunities for Big Data in statistics if the associated risks and challenges are addressed and the identified key determinants prioritized to promote the adoption.

Keywords: Data revolution, Big Data, National Statistical System, official statistics, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Structural Equation Modeling

DOI: 10.3233/SJI-210882

Journal: Statistical Journal of the IAOS, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 251-262, 2022