This archive report was first published on 22 August 2019.
Kenya's national census exercise is set to take place over the weekend, with the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang'i, defending his decision to close bars and entertainment joints from August 24 to 25.
Speaking on Thursday, Dr. Matiang'i acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the closure, but emphasized that the census exercise only happens once every 10 years.
‘We are sorry for the inconvenience caused for the closure of social places. Please bear with us, we cannot revise the decision. But please bear in mind that it is only this once in 10 years, we are not being insensitive,’ Dr. Matiang'i said.
He further explained that the directive to shutdown bars is not a motive to ban drinking, and that he is surprised at the reaction from Kenyans.
‘You will think the world is coming to an end this weekend,’ Dr. Matiang'i said.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) is set to conduct the exercise with 138,572 enumerators, accompanied by security personnel, who will be knocking on people’s doors at night.
