This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
As Kenya prepares for its national census, scheduled to take place at the end of next month, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has expressed confidence in the technology to be used. The agency claims that a pilot project has proven the system's efficacy, making it efficient for data collection.
However, past technological hitches, particularly during elections, have raised public skepticism. The 2019 National Housing and Population Census is a crucial exercise that requires adequate preparations and deployment of equipment and personnel to ensure accurate information collection.
According to the KNBS, the census technology has been tested and found reliable. The agency aims to enable the efficient collection of information throughout the country on the night of August 24/25. To mitigate potential issues, it is essential for the officials to consider backup measures.
Accurate household visits and occupant counting are crucial for proper planning and resource allocation. An inflated or understated count can lead to difficulties in allocating resources for essential services like education and healthcare. Furthermore, an accurate count enables the rational creation of new administrative and electoral units, bringing services and representation closer to the people.
The last census produced numbers in some regions that were questioned, leading to calls for revision. This time around, the KNBS has no option but to produce an accurate census.
