Some census questions won’t offer solutions to spur growth but data for politicians’ greed

A Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Enumerator fills in details into an enumeration kit in Eldoret Town in Kenya's Rift Valley on August 25, 2019 during the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census. Some people are concerned why Kenyans are classified by tribe. PHOTO | FILE | NMG 

In Summary

• For the sake of national unity, would refusal to answer the question on tribe be helpful to us?
• Politicians leverage on a community’s numbers to their advantage at the expense of jobless and disenfranchised youth.

By NERIMA WAKO-OJIWA
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When Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released additional reports on the national census last week, the issue of tribe came to the fore. To some, the data was doubtful because it is claimed that in a past survey results were manipulated.

Some people are concerned why Kenyans are classified by tribe. A particular group that has disputed the census results are Kenyan-Somali. Their main contention is why KNBS appends Kenyan before Somali, and why not just call them Somali? Additionally, they are not convinced the results are accurate, claiming their population is more than what the data states.

Other information to note is the numbers of unemployed. How is unemployment defined? The statistics show that up to 39 per cent of Kenyans are unemployed and there is a fear that the number could be more.

For significant national development to be achieved, it is advisable for a country to use the census data when it comes to planning for provision of services and allocation of resources. We, on the other hand, use this information for political agenda or ends.

For the sake of national unity, would refusal to answer the question on tribe be helpful to us? Politicians leverage on a community’s numbers to their advantage at the expense of jobless and disenfranchised youth.

There was a question on how people identify themselves, and there was the option to say Kenyan. It would be interesting to see how many identified themselves as Kenyan. At a time where many are intermarrying, it is becoming common to see couples that are not from one tribe so their children will have a different view when it comes to tribe.

WHOLESOME EFFECT

Ethnic identity is healthy, it brings about diversity which in the end, like the colours of the rainbow make a beautiful wholesome effect.

Research shows youth are not tribal, but I differ. They may not realise how tribalism sneaks in and just like patriarchy is difficult to identify.

Conversations tend to be interesting. A friend recently said her parents told her that if she married outside her community, she could end up in a region that does not eat fish. We laughed and thought how ridiculous, but the young lady confessed that she had never eaten her community’s staple food — mokimo. And some of us blurted out saying “there was some for lunch!” And she responded: “I always see it.”

Interestingly, here we are, looking at data that says most youth are not tribal, but our behaviour is different. When it comes to elections, there is no youth bloc.

Many young people have no preferred candidate and who they vote for depends on the advice from their family members. It could either be an uncle; father; mother or a person truly respect.

We are talking about a generation of parents who believe elected leaders should come from their locality.

The first thing they are curious about when they meet you is your surname — not to know it, but to know where you come from.

When asked where I come from, I often say Nairobi. Nobody is from the capital is often the reply. Can we keep saying that nobody is from Nairobi? But what about those who were born and raised in the capital?

I only visit the village on special occasions or during the holidays, and at most stay a week at a time.

There are people who have strong attachment to places they are born and not necessarily where their ethnic community resides. 

The manner in which we have high affinity to ethnic belonging, we need to be careful with the words that we allow politicians to utter. And as we get closer to an election year, already there’s a surge of unethical comments.

Some statements suggest the exclusion of particular ethnic groups for leadership positions.

There is a thin line between freedom of expression and hate speech but as a country we must pay keen attention because we have already witnessed how it can easily create a rift.

Nerima Wako-Ojiwa is executive director of Siasa Place. Twitter: @NerimaW