Governor Mutua issues businesses closure notice over census

Governor Alfred Mutua. [Photo: Courtesy]

All commercial establishments within Machakos County will be temporarily closed between 24th and 26th August, 2019 to pave way for accurate data collection during the forthcoming national census exercise.

Governor Alfred Mutua has directed that all entertainment joints-particularly those trading in alcohol sales to close shop in order to allow families to get together for the exercise.

“Bars and joints that predominantly sell alcohol or engage in entertainment will be closed from 24th Saturday 6am until Sunday 25th 6pm. Likewise, all markets including open air markets and shops will close by 5pm on August 24th and reopen 9 am following day,” Dr Mutua said in a press conference held at his Machakos office Monday morning.

The governor also directed that factories and construction sites stop works at midday August 24th and resume August 26th from 6am.

He explained the directive was aimed at facilitating accurate collection of data by enumerators in the census exercise scheduled for August 24th.

“These stoppages and closures are to give workers and others enough time to travel to their homes for the census activity. Employers should give their employees time off to travel home for this important national activity,” Mutua said.

The governor directed village administrators, ward administrators, inspectorate staff and all county officers who may be concerned to ensure full compliance with the executive order.

Underpinning the essence of being present for headcount, Mutua noted the exercise will inform key decisions in allocation of funds and development funding. “I urge Machakos residents who work and live out of the county to travel home for the census because when they are counted in other counties they are denying Machakos their rightful finance allocations,” he said.

The governor warned that punitive action will be taken against those who will flout any of the directives. “Those who do disregard these set times will incur heavy punitive costs that may include canceling of their business permits, arrests and hefty fines,” he said.

The governor was accompanied by his deputy, Francis Maliti and the executive committee member for decentralized and county administration, Titus Nzeki.