Displaced families criticise State, vow to reject census

By Steve Mkawale and Antony Gitonga

Displaced families still camping in Nakuru and Naivasha have threatened to boycott census.

They told The Standard there was no point being counted as Kenyans yet they didn’t have homes.

"We are refugees in our own country and since the State has failed to resettle us, we should not be counted as Kenyans," said Ms Mary Muthoni Mwangi at Nakuru’s Pipeline camp.

The more than 2, 000 families living in tents along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway said the census was meaningless to them.

Around 10, 000 people are still in transition camps in Naivasha town and environs.

"Of what benefit will the census be to us?" said Samson Matheri, who was uprooted from his home in Kipkelion during post-election violence.

Ms Margaret Wanjiru wondered how the State would classify them.

"Why spend billions to count us while we have no shelter?" she said.

In Naivasha, politicians have been warned against inciting displaced persons to boycott the exercise.

no obstacles

DC Mohammed Birik said they would not tolerate obstacles during the exercise scheduled for the night of August 24/25.

"We are aware some people are spreading lies. We warn them the State is watching and ready to act," said Mr Birik. He said security had been intensified.

Birik accused some unnamed politicians of mobilising displaced persons to shun the census.