This archive report was first published on 17 August 2019.
On August 26, 2019, a public holiday was initially announced by the President's Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU) to coincide with the Kenya Population and Housing Census. However, just hours later, the government issued a clarification stating that the day would not be a public holiday.
The clarification, issued on Friday night, read: 'Contrary to our earlier dispatch on the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, we wish to clarify that His Excellency the President did not announce that August 26 will be a public holiday.'
The statement continued: 'We regret the error and wish to say that as much as the Kenya 2019 Population and Housing Census is important to the country, August 26 which will be on a Monday will not be a public holiday. Our apologies for inconveniences caused by the erroneous communication.'
The census exercise was set to commence on August 24, 2019, across the country.