The police will erect roadblocks along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway on the night of August 24/25, 2019 to enable counting of people on transit during the census, Makueni County Commissioner Mr. Maalim Mohammed has said.
Mr. Maalim said that the roadblocks will be erected at Mtito Andei, Emali and Salama to ensure passengers and truck drivers do not miss out in the national census.
He particularly called on the drivers and passengers to co-operate when flagged down by the police during the exercise in a bid to make it a success.
“The travellers will however be asked if they have been enumerated from their areas of departure to avoid double listing,” said the County Commissioner while briefing the media at his Wote boardroom on Wednesday.
The County Commissioner disclosed that a special contingency of security officers will be deployed to areas prone to human-wildlife conflict in Makindu and Kibwezi Sub-counties.
Some of the areas include Kasuvi, Kai, Kiu Muuni and Kaunguni, Nthongoni, Kathekani, Utithi, Masongaleni, Mtito Andei, Ngwata and Nzambani.
The administrator called for the closure of entertainment joints on Saturday and Sunday starting from 5pm.
“Census will start from 6pm and we call for closure of bars and clubs early enough to enable revelers ample time to participate in the census,” said Mohammed.
He also warned residents against giving false information to enumerators saying lying will amount to breaking the law.
“Lying will attract a jail term of six months or a fine Sh 100, 000,” warned the County Commissioner.
He called on chiefs, assistant chiefs and village elders to collaborate with the staff enlisted for the census and familiarise themselves with their areas of deployment.
“There will be 2,000 security officers who will accompany the enumerators, chiefs, assistant chiefs and village elders during the exercise,” he said.
Maalim warned the census staff against divulging any information or data obtained during the census saying the information is confidential.
He disclosed that there will be international observers monitoring the exercise and called for collaboration from the relevant stakeholders.
By Patrick Nyakundi and Roselyne Kavoo
