| dc.description.abstract | The aim objective of this study is to examine and
to analyse the sources of population information in
Kenya and to rationalise, assist and make or
the state of t s information. The research activity
therefore revolved around critical evaluation and
analysis of a wide variety of information sources that
comprise the fundamental framework for an information
system.
The roles played by a variety of institutional
source were examined before an analysis was made of the
literary source available in Kenya. The examination
and analysis o£ these sources traversed several historical
phases, that is from the pre-colonial period to the
end of 1977.
A number of findings have emerged from this study
Firstly, with regards to the pre-independence period,
the sources of population information, be the y institutional
or literary, were difficult to trace. It as not until the first national population census
taken in 1948 that there was base on which demographic
studies could be carried out scientifically regarding
the Kenya population.
Secondly, improvement on the status of population
information in Kenya during the independence period is
noticed mainly due to the work of the Demographic Unit
of the Central bureau of Statistics in the Ministry of
finance and Planning.
Thirdly Kenya has family planning policy but
does not appear to have an explicit population policy
which accommodates all aspects of population.
Fourthly, Kenya does not have an information policy
to guide the production organisation, dissemination
and utilization of information in general, or of
population information in particular.
The general conclusion arising from these observations therefore
is that not enough emphasis has been given to
the need to use population as a tool for national planning.
The nature of the population information used in the
planning or decision making process s, where such use
is made, requires to be further improved by making this
information more comprehensive and accurate.
This study therefore recommends that a National
Demographic Centre be established. This centre should
be given adequate powers to collect population information
all possible sources, and be well - supported
financially to apply modern techniques of collection,
correlation, analysis and publication of such information.
It is further recommended that a coordinating
agency in the field of information transfer should
be established and be given the mandate and the powers
to coordinate all existing units of the information
service network and to standardize the respective
practices. The agency should therefore achieve an improved state of information in all
fields, including the population field | en |
