Data governance and open science in energy planning: A case study of the Kenyan ecosystem

There is growing recognition of the need for openness in the governance and management of long-term energy systems planning, including improving data accessibility to inform the planning process. Open data principles offer a way to manage and govern this process more collaboratively and transparently, but they are challenging to implement particularly in resource-constrained and decentralised planning contexts like low- and middle-income countries. For this reason, this paper assesses the viability of open data practices for enhancing transparency and collaboration in energy planning, using Kenya as a case study. Through qualitative analysis of policy documents and stakeholder interviews, this study evaluates the alignment and divergence between internationally accepted values and principles of open science and open data and Kenya's energy planning needs. What emerges is a contrasting picture. The results show that, while open approaches to energy data are theoretically promising for addressing current energy data challenges in Kenya, stakeholders show limited agreement or understanding of practical implementation pathways. These findings aim to support Kenyan stakeholders and decision-makers involved in the ongoing long-term planning process under the Integrated National Energy Plan.