Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City .
KENYA is reported to have suffered another set-back following reports appearing in the local media that Uganda has made it clear it will not allow census officials to land on the disputed island for the purpose of counting the number of Kenyans living there.
The Sunday nation, a Nairobi weekly has reported quoting a Ugandan security official manning the island as saying his country would not allow census officials permission to go there and count the number of Kenyan traders and fishermen living on the disputed island in Lake Victoria.
“Migingo is our territory and we will not allow enumerators here unless they obtain special permission from Kampala”, one of the security personnel based on Migingo was quoted as saying.
The Ugandan official was further quoted as saying that Kenyans operating on the disputed island would only be allowed to go back to their rural homes on the mainland to be counted there.
But Migori District Commissioner Mr.Julius Mutula, in a different statement said he had asked Ugandan authorities to allow the enumerators on the island for one night.
“We are just going to count our people, and we want to know how many traders and fishermen are living on this particular island”, the DC. said.
Meanwhile, the United States Agency for International Development {USAID} is reported to have made a colossal amount of money to the tune of Kshs 70 million to be used in engaging the independent monitors. This has been revealed as the state is preparing itself for the national census scheduled for August 24-25. The monitors will be operating on 68 selected districts.
The National Planning Minister, Wycliffe Oparanya said the independent monitors will be required to prepare and file parallel report of the event to the USAID. He said the deployment of independent monitors is meant to stem queries over the result of the census.
“I requested for the external monitors so the result could be credible”, Mr. Oparanya added. USAID also offered to train local people to carry out local parallel and independent census , also expected to cover 68 districts of their own choice.
In some regions, especially in those areas which are infested by banditry and cattle rustling, the government would consider the possibility of conducting census during daytime. These are districts like Mandera, Samburu, Wajir, Pokot. The government might also extend the census up to December in order to lure back home the pastoralist communities who have gone out with their animals in search of green pasture and water in the neighboring regions.
The government will also provide relief food to lure back those who have left their homes owing to famine. The Minister asked all the people to participate in the census, noting that some illegal immigrants may shun the count for fear of exposure.
“We want to count everybody in Kenya soil .Our mission is not to establish if one here legally or not,” he said.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com
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From: Leo Odera Omolo
Date: Sun, Aug 16, 2009 at 6:59 AM
Subject: uganda says no to census officials intending to go to migingo for counting kenyans