Why Data is the new oil and there’s lots of money in it

In the last one year, I have met graduates from some top universities --University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Michigan, Leeds University and University of California, Berkeley -- doing research in Kenya.

They are on average younger than our graduate students. Their approach to data collection is also different. They prefer open discussion instead of long questionnaires. Their topics range from international relations to local perceptions of Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). They are doing research on SGR before it is completed as we argue who should take credit for it.