Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has ordered all business entities to be shut on eve of the census.
Mutua directed that bars and other alcohol selling joints should remain closed 6am on Saturday, August 24 until 6pm on Sunday, August 25.
The Machakos County boss further stated that markets and shops should be closed from 5pm on Saturday, August 24 and reopen at 9am on Sunday, August 25.
For factories, construction sites and other works, they will be closed from 12noon on Saturday, August 24th and reopened on at 6am Monday, August 26.
“These stoppages and closures are to give workers and others enough time to travel to their homes for the census activity,” said Mutua as quoted by Citizen.
For those who are thinking of going against his directive, Governor Mutua warned that they might be arrested or even their business permits canceled.
“Those who do disregard these set times will incur heavy punitive measures that may include canceling of their business permits, arrests and hefty fines,” added the governor as quoted by Citizen Digital.
The governor has called on Ward administrators and county administrators to make sure that all his directives are adhered to.
Mutua also requested those outside the county to travel back home so that they may be counted from their homes.
“Census is important for allocation of funds and development funding. I again urge those who work out of town to make arrangements and go back to their villages to be counted because when they are counted in other counties they are denying Machakos their rightful finance allocations,” said Mutua as uoted by Citizen Digital.