Census officials yesterday began carrying out pre-enumeration listing of households ahead of the main exercise tomorrow evening.

The exercise, scheduled to end today, is meant to enable the enumerators familiarise themselves with their respective areas of operation during the exercise.

“This exercise will make it easier for the enumerators  to conduct the actual census which kicks off tomorrow,” the Kenya Bureau of Statistics said last evening.

Stern warning

Preparations for the exercise went smoothly across the country with national government officials sending out a stern warning to individuals and officials who fail to abide by what is required of them.

In Siaya, Governor Cornel Rasanga asked  the business community to allow staff to go home at 5pm so as to participate in the exercise. 

In Kericho, County Commissioner Moses Mbaruku warned that anybody who will attempt to disrupt the exercise will face the law.

Meanwhile, Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony  said the county is ready for tomorrow’s national census as he  urged  residents to co-operate with the census officials.

In Makueni, Deputy County Commissioner Florence Obunga said no church crusades will be allowed during the census nights. Obunga said residents are expected to be at their homes by the time the enumeration exercise starts at around 6pm.

Speaking during the sub-county census committee meeting yesterday, the DCC urged religious leaders to ensure that all churches remained closed during the census nights and give worshippers ample time to be counted.

In Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi ordered for the closure of all alcohol selling joints on Saturday night to pave way for a successful census within the county.

Speaking at the County Commissioner’s Office after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) on Wednesday, Murungi urged revelers to instead enjoy their drinks on Friday and have a break on Saturday so as to give the enumerators easy time to conduct the exercise.

The assurance

In Kitui, the  county security team assured residents of enhanced security before and during Saturday’s  exercise. Speaking after meeting the county security committee, Kitui County Commissioner John Ondego said they had mobilised and deployed dozens of security officers to scuttle any possible plans to disrupt the enumeration exercise set to kick off on August 24.