Police in Naivasha, Nakuru county are holding two members of the Akorino religious group over claims of frustrating the ongoing census drive by refusing to participate.
The two, a man and a woman, were arrested at Gatamaiyu village where they allegedly kicked the enumerators who had arrived to take their details out of their house.
With the support of their four children, they allegedly rejected the exercise claiming that their religion doesn't allow it, quoting Bible verses purportedly warning against census.
The man identified as Akhi Shilton protested that it would be a curse if they agreed to take the count, claims that were backed by Akol Emmah, the woman.
“The book of 2 Chronicles 2:17 bars us from been counted and we shall not defy God's name so as to please the government or members of the public,” said Akhi, a preacher.
A local elder named Moses said the family is not new to such, and has repeatedly been forced to participate in other important exercises including immunization.
"In various cases police have intervened so that their children could be immunised. We were not surprised when he blocked the census officers,” he said as quoted by Standard.
The cleric reportedly told the officers that they would only be counted in heaven and will not participate in the exercise to impress the government.