<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Kemper
Strategic Municipal Income Trust Semiannual Report for the six months ended
5/31/2000 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000846596
<NAME> KEMPER STRATEGIC MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> KEMPER STRATEGIC MUNICIPAL INCOME TRUST
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1999
<PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAY-01-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 183,081
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 181,412
<RECEIVABLES> 4,560
<ASSETS-OTHER> 724
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 186,697
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 132
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 132
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 118,906
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 10,742
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 10,742
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (114)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (557)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (1,669)
<NET-ASSETS> 186,565
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 11
<INTEREST-INCOME> 6,310
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 835
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5,486
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (556)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3,737)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,193
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (5,590)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (537)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (4,934)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 570
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 835
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 181,375
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.31
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.51
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.40)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.52)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.05)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.85
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.89
</TABLE>
