Census Enumerators' Pay Fraud

It is now two months since the government carried out a National Housing and Population Census that takes place in a span of ten years to enable planning. This was one of the most difficult operations especially for the census officials, especially enumerators, who had a duty of collecting raw data from a hostile population. First to note is that Kenya's population is undergoing one of the most difficult times of its own kind due to global financial crisis coupled with the 2007 post poll chaos which divided the country. The effects have been tremendous with a hostile people towards any government operations.

However, despite all the difficulties that census officials underwent to ensure a smooth and successful completion of this important exercise, it is sad to note that they have not received their payments two months after completion of the exercise. Planning Minister Mr. Wycliffe Oparanya has been on record more than four times promising to 'sort out the mess next week'. But it seems like 'next week' to hime has a different meaning because it never comes.Several demonistrations in different parts of the country to push the government respond to their promises have not yield any fruits either. The result is a dis hearted group of census officials full of hopes that a bright day will dawn on them.

The contract issued out by the government before the commencement of the exercise in August stated that officials were to receive their pay between Septenber 3rd and 10th, through their respective bank accounts. But this, it seems, was just one of the glossy language used by the government to get work done. But the question is 'where did the Kshs. 7.4 billion that was set aside for this exercise vanish to? Is this another grand scandal that is now the order of the day for most government ministries? Only time will tell..