Public holiday over Kenya census

President Kibaki on Sunday declared Tuesday a public holiday as all was set for the National Census which starts Monday, August 24.

In a public address to the nation relayed from State House, the President announced that preparations for the counting were complete and urged all Kenyans to participate.

““The time has now come for us all to be counted. The programme is on schedule. All the districts have received the materials,” the President said during the 4 pm television and radio address.

The counting-done after every 10 years, is to start at 6 pm to 10 pm today which is census night.

Thereafter, exercise will continue from 6 am to 10 pm on daily basis until August 31.

“The most critical day is Monday 24th August which is the Census night. I, therefore, call upon all Kenyans to stay at home on this material day between 6.00 pm and 10.00 p.m., so as to participate fully in this noble exercise,” the President appealed.

He explained that Kenya Population and Housing Census is central to the planning and development of the country.

The Head of State appealed to all Kenyans to observe limited movement and stay in-doors to be counted.

He also asked pastoralists who have been moving in search of water and pasture for their livestock “to make arrangements that will enable them to be counted.”

The government through various ministries, he said, has put in place strategies to distribute relief food and water to the pastoralists, especially along the borders during the census.

On threats of insecurity, the President assured Kenyans adequate security measures have been put in place for the census officials and the public.

“Indeed, census enumerators who will be visiting our homes have been recruited from the local neighbourhoods and will in most cases be known to the residents,” he said.

The officials will further be accompanied by village and community elders as they visit households.

“They will also be wearing branded T-shirts and will be carrying identification cards,” he said.

The President said tomorrow’s holiday is meant to further assure security and enable enumerators to carry out most of their work within the first day of the census.

The President launched a 25-day countdown to the counting three weeks ago.

On Sunday, he said the Government, NGOs and religious organizations have also carried out a comprehensive awareness campaign to make every Kenyan aware of the exercise.

“If you know anyone who for one reason or the other, may not be aware of this exercise, please inform him or her about it in the next twenty-four hours,” he said and wished all Kenyans a “peaceful census and God’s blessings.”

Already Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Njoroge Ndirangu who is also alternate chairman of the census organising committee has directed that all bars be closed by 7.30 pm today so that patrons could join their families for counting.

This year’s poll, which is the fifth since the country attained its independence, will cost Sh7.4 billion.

Census in Kenya was first held in 1948, when Kenya was still a Colony administrated by the British. Since 1969 census has been taken every ten years with the last being in 1999

The government is funding 95 percent of the budget for this year’s census while the reminder is coming from development partners. Currently, it is estimated that Kenya’s population stands at 40 million.

Census is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.

Preparation for this year’s exercise were marked by various hitches and problems amid threats of insecurity in some parts of the country.