Migingo islanders to be counted in census

Kenyans on the disputed Migingo Island will be counted in the national population and housing census. All parts of Kenya will be enumerated during the national exercise, to be conducted from August 24 to 31, Planning Permanent Secretary Edward Sambili said on Wednesday.

“We have completed our cartographic mapping in all parts of the country, except Nairobi, and the census will take place everywhere including Migingo Island,” he said putting paid to any doubts about the government’s conviction on the island’s ownership.

The row between Kenya and Uganda over the island has been raging since the beginning of the year. The two countries have agreed to set up a team of surveyors to determine in which country the island lies. The team has two months to complete the work that will cost Sh140 million.

On Wednesday, Dr Sambili also announced that the census will cost Sh7.3 billion, with more than Sh700 million of this coming from donors. “The government is collaborating with the United States of America Census Bureau to assist in data processing and for transparency, accountability and efficiency, the National Census Steering committee has approved external monitoring of the process by experts,” Dr Sambili said.

More districts

Information will be sampled on the size and composition of the population, levels of education, fertility and mortality levels, migration, rate and pattern of urbanisation, labour force participation, housing conditions and availability of household amenities, agricultural activities, information communication technology and forms of disabilities.

Dr Sambili said a shortgae of vehicles, district boundary disputes and the creation of more districts had increased costs and slowed mapping.