<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Kemper
Strategic Income Semiannual Report for the fiscal year ended 04/30/2000 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such finanical statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000216314
<NAME> KEMPER STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> KEMPER STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 647,635
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 571,347
<RECEIVABLES> 18,025
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1,386
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 590,758
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,801
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,865
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 4,666
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 763,977
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 29,865
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 45,575
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,765
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (102,906)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (76,743)
<NET-ASSETS> 586,092
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 249
<INTEREST-INCOME> 33,372
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 4,932
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 28,688
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (28,813)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (7,595)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (7,720)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (7,002)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 8,839
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (54,139)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4,642
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (133,973)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (691)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (63,314)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,842
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 4,957
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 176,520
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 5.26
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.21
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.30)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.21)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 4.96
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.19
</TABLE>
