This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
On July 25, 2019, Rift Valley Regional Coordinator George Natembeya spoke to Nyakundi Report at his office in Nakuru. He discussed the recent arrest of a chief and an MCA in Baringo South over claims they incited residents to boycott the ongoing national census.
According to Natembeya, the two would be arraigned after investigations. He explained that an entire village had refused to be enumerated after the two claimed that Baringo South would be merged with Baringo North.
The Statistics (Amendment) Act, 2019, signed into law by President Uhuru Kenyatta last month, increased penalties for obstruction of census from Sh100,000 to Sh500,000.
Police managed to arrest the chief after receiving information on the alleged incitement in time. The arrest followed a banditry attack that left at least one person dead in Baringo South sub-county.
“The man who hails from the Ilchamus community was confronted by two armed bandits and shot dead. The bandits suspected to be from the Pokot community had attempted to scare members of the Ilchamus from participating in the headcount,” said Natembeya.
Similar fears had been reported in Mogotio constituency, where some residents spread rumours that it would be merged with neighbouring Rongai constituency.
Despite these concerns, Natembeya assured residents of their security and stated that the census has been smooth in six North Rift counties that have had security issues in the past.
