This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
As the country prepares for the National Population and Housing Census, the government has taken measures to ensure a smooth exercise. Bars and entertainment joints across the country will close early on Saturday to enable citizens to be at home when the census begins.
According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i, citizens will be expected to be at home for the exercise and to provide accurate information when census officials visit. Dr. Matiang'i made the announcement at the Embu Stadium during the official opening of the 10th Water Companies Sports Organisation (WASCO) games.
Addressing concerns that criminals may pose as census officials, Dr. Matiang'i assured citizens that all security officers have been recalled from leave to ensure the census is incident-free. He also clarified that the enumerators have been recruited from their sublocations and will be accompanied by village elders, making it likely that the census party will have someone known to the householders.
Dr. Matiang'i also clarified the difference between the census and the Huduma number registration, stating that the latter is meant to register people for one identification document while the census is for collecting vital statistics needed for planning purposes.
He advised those who have applied to be accredited as observers during the census to apply to the County Commissioner of the county where they want to monitor, so that they can be issued with identification cards that will enable them to access the process.
— Steve Gatheru/KNA
