The government has not yet begun recruiting personnel expected to carry out the National Population and Housing Census scheduled for August this year.
Consequently no Kenyan should be duped into giving out money in the hope that they will be offered a position as a census official either now or later when the actual census exercise kicks off.
Speaking in Kirinyaga on Tuesday, the County Commissioner (CC), Sam Ojwang said authorities are concerned that some Kenyans were already falling prey to conmen pretending to recruit people on the internet.
He said the government will place advertisements in the media at the right time and added no Kenyan should be swindled of their hard earned money in the name of being recruited for the census.
Ojwang said desperation for employment is making many people easy targets for the conmen despite the government initiative to caution the public against the fraudulent schemes.
He asked those who may have fallen victim to the fraudsters to immediately report to the county police commander for investigations and appropriate action to be carried out.
The CC said stern action will be taken against the perpetrators found to be culpable of having perpetrated the racket.
Ojwang who was speaking during the county development and implementation coordination committee also urged the members of the public to cooperate with the enumerators during the on-going registration for the Huduma Namba.
“Huduma Namba is not census, the purpose for the registration is to assist the government have a database for use in planning in matters to do with agriculture and livestock development.
He said it will be difficult for those who will not be captured to access government services in future in the provision of the heath care and other essential services.
“Cooperate with the chiefs and their assistants working with the enumerators to make sure the project is a success,” Ojwang said
He said the Huduma Namba will be a single source of truth and therefore reiterated the need for the members of the public to support the exercise.
The official said already enumerators for the Huduma Namba registration exercise have been recruited with the work expected to kick off in earnest between April to May this year.
“There is no issue of DNA during the exercise and those spreading the malicious information should be told the truth and be shamed,” he said
Ojwang said the public have been made aware of what is required during the registration exercise, just like the Mpesa financial service who require personal details for one to qualify as a client.
By Irungu Mwangi
