![A collection of equipment to be used in conducting the census exercise, which begins tonight, have been stolen from a West Pokot workshop. [PHOTO | FILE]](https://k24.digital/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/CENSUS.jpg)
By Kirera Mwiti and KNA.
Drama ensued in Naivasha after close to 1,000 enumerators hired to conduct the upcoming census refused to take oath before the government paid their seven-day training allowances.
Judicial officers who had arrived to carry out the exercise had to leave as senior government officers moved in to engage the officers during the midday incident at Milimani High School.
A youth, who declined to be named, said they had been promised Sh300 per day but the pledge had not reflected in their accounts.
He said they feared they could miss out on the payment, adding that the government had promised to settle it before the exercise kicks off.
“We are owed Sh2,100 each for the seven days we have been undergoing training and we shall take oath when we get the payment,” he said.
-Critical event-
However, Naivasha Deputy County Commissioner Mbogo Mathioya downplayed and attributed it to communication breakdown which has since been resolved.
He said plans were underway to make sure the enumerators take oath before embarking on what he termed as a critical national event.
“The payment is coming directly from the Treasury to the enumerators account and this is being worked on by the relevant departments,” he said.
Mbogo added that a multi-agency security team had been formed to provide security in and around the town during the exercise.
Meanwhile, police will erect roadblocks on the Nairobi-Mombasa highway on the night of August 24/25 to enable counting of people in transit during the census, Makueni County Commissioner Maalim Mohammed has said.
He said the roadblocks will be erected at Mtito Andei, Emali and Salama to ensure passengers and truck drivers do not miss out in the national census.
