This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
Published on August 14, 2019, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has called on the people of Western region to take the upcoming census seriously, emphasizing its significance in determining the region's numerical strength ahead of the 2022 polls.
Speaking at Masinde Muliro University, Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati regretted that the region has been left out of Government, and urged locals to spare time for the exercise, saying it will determine the allocation they receive for development.
Wangamati also suggested that all bars should remain closed on the material day to ensure people return to their homes early in readiness for the exercise.
“Let us spare time for the exercise because it will determine the allocation we receive for development,” Wangamati said.
As the chairman of the Council of Governors, Oparanya urged chiefs, their assistants, and village elders to ensure everybody is counted on the night of August 24.
He also urged locals to report immediately to authorities should enumerators skip their homes during the head count exercise.
Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi echoed Oparanya's sentiments, saying Western region has many people but majority are not usually captured during important national events like census and voter registration, leading to low allocation of resources.
The census is expected to commence on the night of August 24/25 and go on until the end of the month.
