This archive report was first published on 21 October 2019.
Kenya's sixth national Census has made history by being the first paperless census in the country's history. The use of electronic gadgets to capture data made it easier to analyze the statistics, with preliminary results set to be released in about two months, according to acting Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani.
Previous census results were released in about nine months, but the electronic data capture system has significantly reduced the time frame. The tablets used in the exercise were assembled by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and Moi University in what Yatani called, “buy Kenya build Kenya” initiative.
The census collected data on various aspects of the population, including sex, age, religion, marital status, ethnicity, and migration status. Fertility of females from the age of 12 years and above was also captured. The data will be used to assess the socio-economic characteristics of people of different backgrounds and identify minority groups.
The size of the population will partly determine the amount of resources to be provided by the government for purposes of development. The information will also aid planners in all planning decisions, enabling them to determine the needs of different segments of the population with regard to age and sex as well as future housing needs.
After six months, the bureau will release the basic results, while the full results of the census will be released in one year once the analysis of all data in all categories covered in the questionnaire is finished. All data collected remains confidential as provided for by the Statistics Act 2006.
