The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has assured Kenyans that preparations for 2019 Population and Housing Census slated for the night of August 24th2019 are proceeding as scheduled.
The Director General, Mr. Zachary Mwangi says for the first time Kenya will leverage newer technology to ensure the census exercise is conducted as per expected global standards.
“The KNBS is working round the clock to ensure preparations for the census are completed within the agreed timelines and meet the internationally recognized thresholds,” said Mr. Mwangi during a media briefing.
He added: “This time round census data will be captured electronically through a paperless process. It will incorporate use of data collection tablets that have been locally assembled at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and Moi University.”
About 170,000 enumerators and supervisors are being recruited to work in this year’s Housing and Population Census. The recruitment process is ongoing and will be completed by 12th of July 2019.
“This exercise has to adhere to internationally recognized guidelines which advocate for the values of professionalism, transparency, accountability and integrity required of statistical systems in maintaining credibility and public confidence,” he emphasized.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, KNBS, has today given an update on the progress of the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census exercise. The briefing was held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, KICC. In attendance were KNBS Director General Mr. Zachary Mwangi, Mr. Mutua Kakinyi, (Senior Manager – Data Processing, KNBS), Mr MacDonald Obudho (Director Population and Social Statistics, KNBS) and Mr. Robert Nderitu (Publicity Committee Chair, KNBS).
The Bureau detailed the milestones achieved in readiness for the upcoming Census exercise. Mr. Zachary Mwangi said the training for 29,700 supervisors, 135,000 enumerators hired to conduct 2019 census to start on July 15 and will be done for one week. Here is the media brief by KNBS Director General Mr. Zachary Mwangi :
“Kenya has conducted seven censuses in the past. The first national census was conducted in 1948, followed by 1962, 1969, 1979, 1989, 1999 and 2009. The 2019 Census will be conducted in accordance with the Constitution 2010 (Fourth Schedule part 1 item 11) , Statistics Act No. 4 of 2006 Laws of Kenya and the legal notice no 205 of November 2018 – The statistics (census of population) order, 2018.
The 2019 Census will be carried out in three phases namely: Pre-Enumeration, Enumeration and Post-Enumeration. The 2019 Census will be the first to make use of technology. It will be a paperless process, and will use mobile technology for Cartographic Mapping as well as Enumeration. The advantages of using technology for the2019 Census include: Elimination of manual data entry, Real time data sent to the server from the time enumeration starts, and Shortening the time taken to release Census results.
KNBS successfully conducted a pilot Census in August 2018 to test various aspects including: Logistics, Accuracy of the maps, Questionnaires, Adequacy of Personnel, Technology. The total number of personnel required is as follows: 2,700 ICT Supervisors, 27,000 Content Supervisors and 135,000 Enumerators. The recruitment process is being handled by County Census Committees (CCCs) and will be completed by 14th July, 2019.
The training of Traners, ICT Supervisors and Enumerators is scheduled to begin on 15th July 2019 and will be completed by 21st August 2019.
Production of the mobile devices to be used during the Census exercise is ongoing at JKUAT & Moi universities. This has led to job creation for Kenyans in assembling and programming the gadgets. The devices will be distributed to the counties as from 12th July 2019. The Enumeration is scheduled for August 2019. The reference night is 24th/25th August, 2019.
We did not collect information on agriculture in the last census but this time we do have a whole module on agriculture.”
The Kenya Bureau of Statistics, KNBS, has completed the process of shortlisting for Enumerators countrywide. Shortlisted applicants have since received communication via the Short Service Message, SMS, service and are expected to attend interviews on Friday 12th July, 2019.
Here is a sample SMS inviting a shortlisted candidate to the interviews for Enumerators;
‘Following your application for the post of Enumerator you have been invited for Interviews on Friday 12/07/2019 at (interview place) at (Interview time). Carry with you original certificates, testimonials, ID, clipboard and a pen for written interview. Observe time. Please confirm receipt through (Correspondence).’
KNBS is seeking to recruit close to 164,000 personnel on short term basis. 135,000 enumerators will be recruited on a temporarily basis, 27,000 will be content supervisors and 2,700 will be Information Technology, IT, Supervisors. Also to be hired are village elders, security personnel and coordinators to assist in making the exercise flawless.
Read a sample of Census interview questions, below;
Census Enumerators’ interview questions
Census Enumerators’ interview questions
Census Enumerators’ interview questions
Answers to multiple choice Census questions
Possible Census questions
Click on the link below to read through a guide on possible written interview questions and answers:
