This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
Published on August 26, 2019, Nairobi — The country's top leaders were among the first to be enumerated as the census exercise got underway countrywide amid tight security.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his family were among the first to be listed in the exercise, which kicked off at 5pm on Saturday. The President was enumerated with his wife, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, and their children at their Nairobi home.
Former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta and several family members also joined the President for the exercise. In a brief address after the enumeration, President Kenyatta reiterated his call to Kenyans to participate in the national exercise to provide the government with accurate data for planning national development programs.
"Mine is to say that I have formally gone through the process. We've completed that exercise with my family," the President said.
"Once again I reiterate that this is an exercise that's geared towards helping us plan for your future. It is an exercise that is geared towards better utilization of your taxes to ensure that they get to the people. You cannot plan if you do not have the right statistics," he added.
Other leaders who participated in the exercise included Deputy President William Ruto, who was enumerated alongside his family members at his Karen home in Nairobi, and former President Mwai Kibaki, who was enumerated shortly before 7pm.
Former President Daniel Moi was also enumerated in Kabarak, accompanied by his family members, including heir apparent Senator Gideon Moi. Moi called on Kenyans to participate fully in the exercise, which he said was pivotal in aiding the government to plan and make key policy decisions.
