  We compute the local rate of events similar to GRB 170817A, which has been
recently found to be associated with a kilonova (KN) outburst. Our analysis
finds an observed rate of such events of R$_{KN}\sim 352^{+810}_{-281}$
Gpc$^{-3}$yr$^{-1}$. After comparing at their face values this density of sGRB
outbursts with the much higher density of Binary Neutron Star (BNS) mergers of
1540$^{+3200}_{-1220}$ Gpc$^{-3}$yr$^{-1}$, estimated by LIGO-Virgo
collaboration, one can conclude, admittedly with large uncertainty that either
only a minor fraction of BNS mergers produces sGRB/KN events or the sGRBs
associated with BNS mergers are beamed and observable under viewing angles as
large as $\theta$ $\leq$ $40^{\circ}$. Finally we provide preliminary estimates
of the number of sGRB/KN events detected by future surveys carried out with
present/future ground-based/space facilities, such as LSST, VST, ZTF, SKA and
THESEUS.
