CS Omamo tours Busia county to assess census progress

Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo on Wednesday toured two wards in Matayos, Busia county to inspect the ongoing population census.

Omamo visited Bugengi village in Bukhayo West before proceeding to Nasira and Buchami villages in Matayos South ward.

At Nasira, the CS watched Mzee Livingstone Obinda provide census data for over 15 minutes.

She then headed to Buchami village where she witnessed the enumeration of Petronilla Okado.

Omamo said she was pleased with the way the exercise was going on across the county saying over 80 per cent of the residents have been counted, with three more days to go.

Demographic projections put Busia population at over 900,000 compared to 743,000 in the 2009 population census.

“Busia is an enthusiastic county with no incident reported since the start of the exercise. I am confident the target will be met before the end of the exercise on Saturday,” she said.

The CS said she was delighted to be in Busia to monitor the census exercise and expressed satisfaction that the majority youth enumerators will discharge their duties diligently.

Omamo said the results of the census exercise will help the country plan for the provision of services and to assess demographic trends.

She said the purpose of the population and housing census was to collect and benchmark statistics on demographics, social and economic characteristics crucial in the country’s development planning process.

Census results are also key in guiding the boundaries review commission in the delimitation of electoral boundaries.

The CS who was flanked by the deputy Head of Public Service Wanyama Musiambo and Busia county commissioner Jacob Narengo. 

(edited by O. Owino)

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