The 2019 National Population and Housing Census will be digitised to enhance the quality of data, Treasury CS Henry Rotich has said.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics is set to acquire about 165,000 mobile devices for the eighth census in Kenya’s history.
CS Rotich noted that paperless data collection follows UN recommendations.
“It has inbuilt checks, correction of inconsistent responses and cross-validation with other records,” Rotich said, adding: “This information will enable the government to plan its spending based on socio-economic and demographic status.”
The CS further said that the data will also help monitor the progress of Vision 2030 and the implementation of the Big 4 Agenda.
“The census will provide the much needed comprehensive data at the county and lower levels to inform development planning and programming to facilitate quality service delivery to citizens,” said Rotich.
This will involve determining the level of funding that is allocated to sectors such as health and education.
The government will also use the exercise to monitor the level of achievement of internationally agreed programmes such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Recruitment for the census staff will commence in June. A total of 135, 000 enumerators, 27,000 content supervisors and 2,700 ICT supervisors will be hired.
They will be assisted by security personnel, village elders and coordinators.
CS Rotich cautioned the public against falling prey to fraudsters who ask applicants to send money.
“The government does not require individuals to pay any money to be considered for employment,” he said.
Any communication on the Census must come from either Treasury or KNBS websites, Rotich added.
He spoke on Wednesday at a Nairobi hotel during an update on the exercise.
The census is conducted every ten years.
The 2009 headcount put Kenya’s population at 38,610,097. The forthcoming census will be the first under the devolved system.
