Data protection law in Kenya: registration and research permits
What a survey team needs to know about personal data and survey authorization in Kenya.
Summary for planning; confirm requirements with the regulator before fieldwork.
operational regulator
Data protection law
Data Protection Act 2019 (2019)
Registration
registration of data controllers and processors required (exemptions by regulation)
Survey permits
KNBS research license required under the Statistics Act 2006 (research license regime)
National statistics office
Note
ODPC operational since November 2020; registration portal live. Academic and field research also needs a research license from NACOSTI (nacosti.go.ke).
Kenya research rules: common questions
Is there a data protection law in Kenya?
Data Protection Act 2019 (2019).
Who regulates personal data in Kenya?
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC).
Do I need to register to collect personal data in Kenya?
Registration of data controllers and processors required (exemptions by regulation).
Do I need a permit to run a survey in Kenya?
KNBS research license required under the Statistics Act 2006 (research license regime).
Sources: the regulator and statistics office pages linked above, retrieved 10 Oct 2026. See our methods.