By Mercy Imali
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics will include Intersex as the third gender for the upcoming national census. Kenya is set to be the first African country to collect data on intersex persons through a census. This is a major step for Intersex persons in Kenya. As finally there will be some data to be able to plan for their unique needs. The census will be conducted between the night of 24th – 25th August, 2019.
The inclusion of a third gender was a recommendation from the task force of Intersex Persons Society of Kenya (IPSK). Kenyans now have the option to identify themselves as either male, female or intersex. Intersex people do not fit the typical definitions for male or female. They are estimated to be more than 700,000. Kenya has a general population of 49 million people.
This particular census will be paperless and will use mobile technology for Cartographic Mapping.