TITLE:
Towards a Framework for National Spatial Data Infrastructure Development in Kenya: A Comparative Analysis of Established SDIs
AUTHORS:
Collins Mwange
KEYWORDS:
Spatial Data Infrastructure, SDI, Framework, Kenya
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geographic Information System,
Vol.18 No.5,
September
28,
2026
ABSTRACT: Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs) offer immense potential, including sustainable land governance, socio-economic growth, innovation, and environmental management. Despite these benefits, SDI development in Kenya remains constrained by institutional and legal gaps, and implementation bottlenecks. Grounded in a comparative document analysis of primary legal, policy, and strategy frameworks, this paper evaluates five mature national SDIs (USA, Canada, Australia, Poland, and South Africa) across explicit operational maturity criteria. By synthesizing cross-case evidence and international best practices against Kenya’s local legal and institutional context, this study proposes a strategic, three-phase framework tailored for Kenya: SDI Inception, SDI Planning, and SDI Implementation. The proposed framework provides decision criteria for adopting a hybrid governance model, emphasizing clear national objectives, adaptive governance, robust legal directives, and cross-sector partnerships. Serving as a conceptual decision-support tool, the framework offers actionable guidance for policymakers and geospatial custodians to operationalize sustainable SDI development in Kenya and similar developing countries.