Obado counted, urges State to deploy security in Migingo for census

Migori Governor Okoth Obado and Mama Hellen Obado field questions from census officials at their Uriri rural home, Migori county. [Standard]

Migori Governor Okoth Obado has asked the government to deploy security officers in Lake Victoria’s Migingo Island  so that Kenyans residing in the island can take part in the 2019 national population census.

Speaking on Saturday night after being counted at his rural home in North Kanyamkago, Uriri sub-county as the noble exercise got underway, the governor cited rampant harassment of fishermen living in the islands by Uganda security forces as a cause for concern during the census period.

“With the ongoing harassments, Kenyans living in these areas will be fearful and might opt to skip the census altogether,” Obado said adding that the government must take charge and ensure they are enlisted.    

Governor Obado also told Migori County residents to welcome the enumerators and participate in the exercise, adding that it is the population of a county that determines devolved funds allocation.

He urged those living along the Kenya-Tanzania borders in areas such as Isebania and Ntimaru in Kuria East to make themselves available for the exercise.

“There are people with relatives and friends on the other side of Tanzania but because they get services in Kenya, let them make sure they participate,” he said.

Governor Obado said he was happy to have participated in the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) led census and called on Kenyans to follow suit.

“As you can see I am also at home and have received the KNBS officials and we have been counted with everyone in my family. Let us all embrace this exercise,” said Obado.

The Population and Housing Census started on Saturday at 6 pm and will continue to August 31, 2019.

This will be the eighth Census since 1948 and the sixth since independence.

This year’s census will be the first Census to be undertaken since the introduction of devolution in line with the 2010 Constitution of Kenya.