This archive report was first published on 24 August 2019.
As the country prepares for the decennial national census, concerns over security have been raised. Many Kenyans fear that criminals might take advantage of the head count and raid homes during the night activity.
However, Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna has assured the public that elaborate security arrangements have been put in place. In a statement, Oguna explained that enumerators will be accompanied by police officers, area chiefs, or sub-chiefs, village elders, or chairpersons of estate associations to ensure a smooth census process.
Enumerators will no longer be carrying bulky sheets of questionnaires, but instead, will use tablet computers to capture data digitally. This method enhances the security of data and guarantees speed of data processing and analysis, according to Oguna.
He added that the devices used for the census are designed specifically for this exercise and cannot be used for any other purpose. The census is set to start on August 24 and will continue until August 31.
Residents are advised not to erase the numbers written on their doors or structures after the enumeration. Oguna also assured that census data is strictly confidential and will not be subjected to any use other than for statistical purposes.
A call centre has been set up for reporting issues in the field, and the hotline toll-free number is 0800-221-020. The centre will remain open for 24 hours during the census process.
