Gov't releases phone number you can call to get updates on Census

Kenyans will be able to receive updates on the 2019 Population and Housing Census via a designated hotline and a communication centre, ICT CS Joe Mucheru has said.

CS Mucheru announced that anyone seeking information of the census process can call 0-800-221020 which will be designated to only provide that information.

The CS also clarified that there will be daily updates at 10 am, issued jointly by Government Spokesman Col (Rtd) Cyrus Oguna and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Director General Zachary Mwangi, from the official census communication centre set up at Teleposta Towers.

Kenyans can call 0-800-221020 for updates on 2019 Population and Housing Census - ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru Pulse Live Kenya

Mr Mucheru, however, advised members of the public that technical information such as enumerators' current location and when they should expect them at their houses will be better communicated by County Commissioners.

Are Huduma Namba and the census connected?

CS Mucheru also addressed concerns on the link between the census and the recently concluded Huduma Namba registration process.

"The census process is distinctly different from the Huduma Namba process. The HM process was registering citizens using biometric data so that we can have identification information on our citizens. A single source of truth.

"Census data is very different because what we are now doing is enumerating a lot more information that will be used for government planning for the next ten years," he clarified.

KNBS Director General Zachary Mwangi during a press conference on the upcoming census on July 8, 2019. (the star) Pulse Live Kenya

CS Mucheru also assured members of the public that data collected on the CAPI tablets by enumerators will be entirely secured because they will be using a private network to transmit the information.

He also noted that the network will be stable and in case the primary network fails, two other networks are on standby as back up.

Mucheru gave the address during the final update before the census by the Cabinet. He was accompanied by Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and acting Treasury CS Ukur Yattani.