Meru Senator Mithika Linturi has asked residents to ignore calls for boycott of the national census, which kicks off on August 24.
Some residents had vowed to boycott the exercise, claiming the recruitment of census officials by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) was not fair.
The residents said the selected officials were from outside the region.
But Senator Linturi yesterday told Kenyans to ensure they are counted since the exercise has development and political importance.
Linturi noted that even though some people were dissatisfied with the selection of officials, it was impossible for everyone to get the limited positions.
“I am encouraging everyone to remain in their homes during the census and to make sure they are counted. The exercise is critical because of its importance in Government planning. The census will form the basis of sharing of national revenue to counties and constituencies.
"It is important that no one is left out, because the numbers are critical for planning of development,” Linturi said.
He asked residents to mobilise everyone to participate in the exercise.
Political planning
“The numbers from the census are also critical for political planning because they are a tool for political bargaining. That is why I am requesting all of us to come out and co-operate with the Government in the exercise,” said the senator.
He said as a leader in Meru, he wants the county to be uplifted in infrastructure development and hence everybody must be captured in the census.
