This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from Kenya statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from Kenyan statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other Kenyan-specific metadata information.
| Goal |
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable |
|---|---|
| Target |
By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons] |
| Indicator |
Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities] |
| Metadata update |
2024] |
| Related indicators |
Indicator 11.3.1: Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate Indicator 11.7.1: Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities Indicator 9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road] |
| Organisation |
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics] |
| Contact person(s) |
Manager, Cartography/GIS] |
| Contact organisation unit |
Cartography/GIS Division] |
| Contact person function |
Undertake Geospatial data collection, compilation, integration, analysis and dissemination. Develop and manage geospatial data bases] |
| Contact phone |
2911000/1,3317612/22/23/51] |
| Contact mail |
P.O Box 30266-00100] |
| Contact email |
dpss@knbs.or.ke] |
| Definition and concepts |
Definitions This indicator monitors the proportion of the population that has convenient access to public transport. The access to public transport is considered convenient when an officially recognized stop is accessible within a walking distance along the street network (roads, paths, walkways) of 500 m from a reference point such as a home, school, work place, market, etc. to a low-capacity public transport system (e.g. bus, Bus Rapid Transit) and/or 1 km to a high-capacity system (e.g. rail, metro, ferry). Additional criteria for defining public transport that is convenient include: a. Public transport accessible to all special-needs customers, including those who are physically, visually, and/or hearing-impaired, as well as those with temporary disabilities, the elderly, children and other people in vulnerable situations. b. Public transport with frequent service during peak travel times c. Stops present a safe and comfortable station environment] Concepts: This indicator monitors the proportion of the population that has convenient access to public transport since most public transport users walk from their trip origins to public transport stops and from public transport stops to their trip destination, local spatial availability and accessibility is sometimes evaluated in terms of pedestrian (walk) access, as opposed to park and ride or transfers. City or urban area - The Degree of Urbanisation (DEGURBA) endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission, in its 51st Session (March 2020) is the workable method used to delineate cities, urban and rural areas for international statistical comparisons in this indicator. This definition combines population size and population density thresholds to classify the entire territory of a country along the urban-rural continuum, and captures the full extent of a city, including the dense neighborhoods beyond the boundary of the central municipality. For the computation of this indicator (11.2.1), Kenya has adopted the DEGURBA to define the analysis area (city or urban area). Public transport is defined as a shared passenger transport service that is available to the general public and is provided for the public good. It includes cars, buses, trolleys, trams, trains, subways, and ferries that are shared by strangers without prior arrangement. |
| Unit of measure |
Proportion (percentage)] |
| Classifications |
Based on the DEGURBA method which harmonizes the global city definition,https://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/51st-session/documents/BG-Item3j-Recommendation-E.pdf] |
| Data sources |
Spatial data on location of public transport stops- bus stops, rail stops, ferry stops; Street Network – roads, walkways: obtained from street maps Population data at enumeration area and 100m2 grid level – number of residents per EA or grid: Obtained from Censuses Demographic data for disaggregation by age, sex, and vulnerable populations: Obtained from census] |
| Data collection method |
Data collection is done at the local city/urban level, with national aggregates made from all cities in the country, or from a sample of representative cities (selected using the National Sample of Cities Approach developed by UN-Habitat).] |
| Data collection calendar |
Annually] |
| Data release calendar |
Annually to cater for an anticipated increase in the number of cities/urban areas in the country] |
| Data providers |
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics; Kenya Roads Board] |
| Data compilers |
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics] |
| Institutional mandate |
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) is established under the Statistics Act, 2006 as the principal agency of the Government for collecting, analyzing and disseminating statistical data in Kenya and as the custodian of official statistical information.] |
| Rationale |
This indicator aims to successfully monitor the use of and access to the public transportation system and the move towards easing the reliance on the private means of transportation, improving the access to areas with a high proportion of transport disadvantaged groups such as elderly citizens, physically challenged individuals, and low-income earners or areas with specific dwelling types such as high occupancy buildings or public housing and reducing the need for mobility by decreasing the number of trips and the distances travelled. The ability of residents including persons with disabilities and businesses to access markets, employment opportunities, and service centers such as schools and hospitals is critical to urban economic development. The transportation system is a critical enabler of economic activities and social inclusion.] |
| Comment and limitations |
The need to include additional features of quality into consideration, as described in the recommended secondary indicators section by different Expert Group Meetings, as distance computation alone is not enough to properly measure “convenient access” to public transport] |
| Method of computation |
The method to estimate the proportion of the population that has convenient access to public transport is based on five steps (core indicator): a) Delimitation of the urban area/ or city which will act as the spatial analysis scope, b) Inventory of the public transport stops in the city or the service area, c) Network analysis based on street network to measure walkable distance of 500 m and/or 1 km to nearest transport stop (“service area”), d) Estimation of population within the walkable distance to public transport, and e) Estimation of the proportion of the population with convenient access out of the total population of the city. |
| Validation |
Data compiled is checked against several criteria including the data sources used, the application of internationally agreed definitions, classification and methodologies to the data from that source, etc (UN-Habitat template.] |
| Methods and guidance available to countries for the compilation of the data at the national level |
The method to estimate the proportion of the population that has convenient access to public transport is based on five steps (core indicator): a) Delimitation of the urban area/ or city which will act as the spatial analysis scope, b) Inventory of the public transport stops in the city or the service area, c) Network analysis based on street network to measure walkable distance of 500 m and/or 1 km to nearest transport stop (“service area”), d) Estimation of population within the walkable distance to public transport, and e) Estimation of the proportion of the population with convenient access out of the total population of the city. https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2020/06/national_sample_of_cities_english.pdf https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2020/06/indicator_11.2.1_training_module_public_transport_system.pdf. The agency also provides on-the-task training to countries on a need basis, as well as continuous technical support throughout the data compilation process to ensure alignment of national processes with the globally adopted methodology. |
| Quality management |
The Bureau being ISO 9001:2015 certified, has a quality management system in place that ensures that data produced meets the set international standards.] |
| Quality assurance |
The Bureau adheres to Kenya Statistical Quality Assurance Framework (KeSQAF) that ensures statistics produced meets the need of the users] |
| Quality assessment |
In adherence to the ISO 9001:2015 requirements the Bureau carries out it’s own internal audits based on KeSQAF Guidelines that ensures high quality statistics are produced.] |
| Data availability and disaggregation |
Data is available at KNBS and other state agencies such as the Urban Development Department (UDD), Kenya Space Agency (KSA) and Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing] Disaggregation Not Available |
| Comparability/deviation from international standards |
None, the Bureau adheres to the Kenya Statistical Quality Assurance Framework (KeSQAF) that ensures statistics produced meets the need of the users and other internationally set standards in relation to the indicator] |
| References and Documentation |
https://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/51st-session/documents/BG-Item3j-Recommendation-E.pdf http://unhabitat.org/ knowledge/data-and-analytics
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| Metadata last updated | Aug 28, 2025 |