This archive report was first published on 27 August 2019.
As the Population and Housing Census Exercise enters its fourth day, the government has ruled out any extension of the exercise, citing that there is still time for every Kenyan to be counted.
Government Spokesperson Col. (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna explained that the census exercise has four more days to go and assured Kenyans that there is enough time for everyone to be enumerated, thus no need to extend the period.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Government Media Centre during a census update, Oguna advised those who have not been enumerated not to wait until the last day but to call the toll-free number and inform the enumerators of their whereabouts so that they could be attended to.
He also noted that where one's residence, plot, or flats have been enumerated but their household had not been counted, the census officials are leaving a call-back card with their contacts, and people should look out for the card underneath their doors.
“Many Kenyans have already been counted, though some households are yet to be covered. We reiterate that the enumeration process continues till 31st August, 2019. Those not already counted should not panic. All will be counted,” Oguna said.
He further explained that the enumeration officers are also marking households which have been counted, and people are advised not to erase those markings, which will assist the officers to come and check which households have not been enumerated.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Director General Zachary Mwangi echoed Oguna's sentiments, explaining that some people may have not been physically counted but if their households were visited even in their absence, then they have been enumerated, and one needs to enquire with their family members and look out for the marking on the door which indicates that the household was enumerated.
When asked about reported cases of people trying to inflate the figures, Mwangi explained that it is very difficult to lie since the system will be checking on the consistency with the numbers because they had done a prelisting and also the questionnaire allows them to flag out any inconsistencies in answering the questions.
He added that before releasing the data, they will do data analysis which will help them clean up all the collected information and eliminate the inflated numbers.
On his part, Oguna said that there have been attempts to tamper with the system, adding that some cases are being investigated in some parts of the country. He advised Kenyans that there is no need to inflate the figures since legal action will be taken.
He also added that so far, three chiefs and one enumerator have been arrested over census malpractice and they will soon be arraigned in court.
Furthermore, Oguna said that there have been provisions made for people living with disability and other special groups in society, and in case where there is someone who is unable to see or hear, then the officials are allowed to bring in an interpreter who can help in the exercise.
