UPDATE 10pm: The government swiftly made a U-turn, on Friday, and stated that President Uhuru Kenyatta had not announced August 26, 2019, as a public holiday.
"Contrary to our earlier dispatch on the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, we wish to clarify that His Excellency the President did not announce that August 26 will be a public holiday.
"We regret the error and wish to say that as much as the Kenya 2019 Population and Housing Census is important to the country, August 26, which will be on a Monday, will not be a public holiday.
"Our apologies for inconveniences caused by the erroneous communication” read a statement from PSCU dated Friday, August 16, 2019.
Earlier Story
The government, on Friday, announced that August 26, 2019, will be a public holiday, to provide room for maximum participation of Kenyans in the upcoming census that begins on August 24.
The announcement was made by President Uhuru Kenyatta at KICC, Nairobi, when he launched the countdown to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census.
"To ensure maximum enumeration during the first two days (August 24 and 25) of the census period, I have authorized Monday, 26th August 2019 to be a Public Holiday," the president announced.
The head of state assured Kenyans of their security during the census exercise, stating that necessary steps have been taken to ensure the activity takes place in a safe environment and with minimal disruption.
“All enumerators will be accompanied by uniformed security officers, and may also be accompanied by community elders and leaders of residents’ associations, depending on the area,” Uhuru spoke.
To ensure that all Kenyans participate in the census, the president communicated that special measures have been put in place to ensure pastoralists , staff in essential and emergency service sectors and persons who support international travel and airlines are counted.
The president, who called on all Kenyans to support the process, explained that the government took the step to reschedule school opening dates so as to minimize movement of persons during the exercise.
“It is therefore, the patriotic duty of each and every one of us to do all that is required to support the exercise," the president urged.
On the use of technology in the census, the Uhuru expressed pride that the mobile telephony devices and other accessories that will be used in the activity, have all been locally assembled at Moi University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
He disclosed that data captured during the upcoming census will be more detailed than in previous similar exercises, so as to take care of all aspects of national planning and resource utilization.
