This archive report was first published on 18 August 2019.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) is facing a major challenge in the upcoming population census, with claims of favouritism in the recruitment of enumerators and content supervisors.
Residents in several counties, including Tharaka-Nithi, Isiolo, and Nyeri, have expressed concerns over the recruitment process, alleging that it was marred by nepotism and favouritism.
According to reports, hundreds of university and college graduates who applied for ICT and content supervisor positions were not invited for interviews despite meeting all the qualifications.
Mr. Mutwiri Kigara, a university graduate from Kibunga, said that most of the qualified applicants for the content supervisor positions from Tharaka South Sub-County were shortlisted but selectively contacted for interviews.
“Most of us came to learn that interviews for the content supervisors had been done a day later, because we were never contacted despite being shortlisted,” said Mr. Kigara.
Tharaka-Nithi County Commissioner Beverly Opwora, however, gave the recruitment exercise a clean bill of health.
Residents in Isiolo have also threatened to boycott the census over what they termed as irregular recruitment of enumerators.
County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri asked local leaders to allow the census officials to carry out their work without interference.
“Those at the border will be counted where they are,” he said.
Enumerators who share personal information during the census will be arrested, the government warned.
Authorities said that those hired to conduct the exercise will take an oath of secrecy before the census date.
Police are on high alert in North Eastern counties of Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir, where figures were contested in the 2009 census, after intelligence reports of plans to disrupt the exercise by criminals.
Published on August 18, 2019.
