This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
On Monday, an inter-ministerial meeting was convened to address concerns about the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census. As a result, the government has adjusted operation mechanisms to ensure the enumeration pace picks up.
The enumeration period in major urban centres (Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kakamega, Nyeri, Kiambu, Thika, Machakos, and Kisii) will now run from 6am to 10pm, while the schedule for other areas has been fixed at 6am to 6pm.
Interior PS Dr. Karanja Kibicho addressed the press at the census communication centre at Teleposta Towers, stating that census personnel will be paid accordingly based on the working hours and directing all content supervisors to make reports in this regard.
Dr. Kibicho warned of severe action against individuals attempting to block the exercise and urged members of the public to report any anomalies through the toll-free number 0800221020.
"It is every Kenyan's constitutional right and responsibility to take part in matters of national interest, and census is one of them," Dr. Kibicho said. "The security of our census personnel and the members of the public remains our top priority, and we have gone out of our way to quell some minor provocations."
Several people, including chiefs, elders, and enumerators, are in police custody awaiting arraignment in court to face various charges, including incitement to violence and attempting to sabotage a national exercise.
Dr. Kibicho also revealed that a group of individuals are on detectives' radar for trying to cook figures and urged National Government Administration Officers and the census personnel to uphold the integrity of the whole process.
The exercise will run until August 31, 2019, and the government has reassured Kenyans that more adjustments will be made progressively to ensure no one is left out.
