<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Kemper
Strategic Income Trust Semi-Annual Report for the period ended 5/31/2000 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000919708
<NAME> KEMPER STRATEGIC INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> KEMPER STRATEGIC INCOME TRUST
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 55,684
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 56,070
<RECEIVABLES> 620
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 56,691
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 8
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 13,578
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 14,075
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 48,241
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 3,466
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,464
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 241
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (6,253)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 386
<NET-ASSETS> 42,616
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,568
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 712
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,856
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (173)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,601)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,082
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (3,124)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 39
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (2,003)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 509
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (6,080)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 192
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 412
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 712
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 44,447
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.88
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.82
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.51)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.90)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.29
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 3.20
</TABLE>
