The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, knbs, is in the process of compiling the 2019 National Housing and Census Data. The Census exercise was completed in August 2019 with the reference enumeration data being the night of 24th August. Once compiled the Census data will be utilized as explained below;
USES OF THE CENSUS DATA
Kenya is one of the few African countries that have held censuses every ten years since independence. In this area, Kenya is also unique in that the census is fully financed through taxpayers’ money, which underscores the importance that the Government accords this national exercise. Let me take this opportunity to share with you some of the uses that will be made of the data being collected through the census.
By Government
For the Government, census data is the most crucial ingredient for facilitating evidence-based planning processes. Given that the data is being collected from the lowest administrative level, it will help the country to ensure that non one is left behind as we progress in the middle income status in line with Vision 2030, the Big Four Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Another critical use of the data is in guiding the Government on the location of important public amenities. Planners will use the information on the number of people to forecast the demand for among others, schools, hospitals and administrative offices for the next ten years.
By businesses
One of the census questions on ICTs focuses on online transactions. This information will provide insights about the potential for e-
commerce in the country. The very high penetration of mobile phones in Kenya presents a huge opportunity for e-commerce.
Census information will also help in determining location of premises, social amenities, establishing the demand for goods and services as well as determining availability of human resources.
By Research and academic institutions
The data will provide research and academic institutions with an up- to-date reference point for interpretation of Kenya’s demographic reality.
By civil society
The civil -society sector will find the data critical for the design and implementation of social programmes.
For international relations
In the community of nations, countries know each other based on national data, particularly population. Kenya will stand tall and proud because it will not only be the most comprehensively done survey in the country’s history, it will also be the first paperless census for which the enumeration process will be fully digitised.
