Albinos plan to snub census

By Ally Jamah

Kenya: Albinos in Kenya have threatened to boycott the national census until proper structures to deal with corruption and other irregularities are put in place.

Speaking Tuesday in Nairobi, Albinism Society of Kenya coordinator and Nominated MP Isaac Mwaura called on Labour and Social Services Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi to halt the crucial exercise until ‘grave anomalies’ are resolved.

“We ask people with albinism to boycott the exercise until proper mechanisms are put in place to do it. Participating in such a flawed process is against our interests. The census has not been conducted in a transparent and credible manner,” he said.

Mr Mwaura said the national census that was to kick off on Monday and end on July 5 had not been publicised, with many people living with albinism and other Kenyans largely unaware of it.

He alleged the official count had been rushed by officials of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities to spend money before the end of the financial year.

Albinism Empowerment Network of Kenya director Martin Wanyonyi said the poorly conducted exercise may fail to capture an accurate number of people living with albinism in the country and thus downplay the need for robust measures to address their plight.