No matter how hard we try to integrate data into decision-making and development, the lack of an adequate address system will always lead to inaccuracies.
I believe accurate address data adds 30% to the accuracy of 80% of the development and feasibility data.
For instance, it’s not enough to conclude that 50% of Disease A cases were recorded in Hospital B. Actionable insights need to include deeper details on the villages/communities involved. That’s only possible with a good address system.
Should the work of creating an address belong to the government? Ideally, yes. To the County government’s Ministry of Planning, to be specific. However, at the moment and in the near future, I don’t see Kenyan counties coming up with the technology and the resources to create such a system.
As a country, there is one thing we’ve been able to do very well – creating an environment where the private sector, religious missions, and community initiatives prosper.
In the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, 50% of the transport sector was run by the government through the Kenya Bus Service (KBS). Today, 98% of the industry is dominated by a more competitive and easily accessible private sector.
This is the same thing that we are seeing in the education sector, in Nairobi County, 31 primary schools are public while 69 are private.
I strongly believe creating a proper and lasting address system is an initiative that would be best implemented by a private initiative.
Learn more about the origin of `Where` Address from this video:
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