Kenyans who will deliberately give false information in the upcoming census will risk a one-year jail term or a fine of Sh100,000 or both.
Imposing of the heavy penalty is in accordance with the Statistics Act 2016, section 26 which stipulates;
“person who willfully fails to give any information or particulars as required under the Act commits an offence. They are liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding Sh100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or to both,”
This information has been elaborated by Citizen TV Journalist Francis Gachuri while speaking to Radio Citizen morning show.
According to his breakdown of the Statistic Act 2016 which guides the entire census process, any person who also boycotts and roughs up enumerators is liable to a fine not exceeding sh 100,ooo or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.
Sheria inasemaje ukitatiza shughuli za sensa ? #JamboKenya kikaoni @Fchurii pic.twitter.com/ICdZUcUL7l
— Radio Citizen (@RadioCitizenFM) August 20, 2019
Gachuri has gone a head to justify the census process claiming that main areas of focus which include;disability, education, labour force, ICT, livestock, agriculture, housing conditions and amenities as well as household assets, will enable the government in planning different geographical locations.
Takwimu za Sensa zitatumika kubaini mambo haya #JamboKenya kikaoni @Fchurii pic.twitter.com/ILVCiPk47x
— Radio Citizen (@RadioCitizenFM) August 20, 2019
Moreover Gachuri has revealed that babies who are born after 24th of August, will not be counted in the census exercise. This is because the national census targets people who are physically present as from the onset of the process.
Kwa Wajawazito itakuwa hivi #JamboKenya kikaoni @Fchurii pic.twitter.com/6CxpOnnMVc
— Radio Citizen (@RadioCitizenFM) August 20, 2019
The counting exercise is set to begin on the night of 24th August and is expected to continue till August 31, 2019.
People will be counted with reference to where they spent the night of August 24/25, 2019, which is called Census Reference Night.
However if one is not accounted, The National Bureau of Statistics will provide a toll number where one can communicate with the enumerators to be counted.