A REVIEW ON AVERAGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN KENYA: 2009

CENSUS
Discussed By: |H. Kengere |D. Okoth| M. Ndinda |M. Kubo | M. Kuvuna| P. Ojwang |
D.Mwangi| J.Anangwe.
INTRODUCTION
According to the United Nation, a population census seeks to gather and disseminate
data on various facets of its persons such as economic, social and demographic trends.
The data obtained is used by various organs or individuals to advance relevant
objectives of the country or the world, such as assessing the phase of a countrys
development, efficiency of its infrastructure and evaluate the population
characteristics (Handbook on Census Management for Population and Housing
Censuses, 2000).
THE 2009 CENSUS: HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION RESULTS
Based on the 2009 Kenya census, we evaluate the implications of the fertility rate
then with the assumption that the term household represents a woman between
childbearing ages. According to the Kenyan Population Datasheet (2011) the term
fertility rate is defined as the average number of children a woman within an age
bracket of 15 49 would have within her lifetime. The rate shows the growth or
decline of population in a country especially the young generation. The Kenyan
census data indicate that fertility rate recorded a rapid growth in the 1970s standing at
an average number of 8 children. However the census reports of 1989 and 1999
indicated a drop from an average of 7.2 children in 1989 to 5.0 births, a drop of 2.2
births. This drops further to 4.6 in 2009.
Despite the declining mortality rate the population has continued to grow, however
the growth can be attributed to other factors such death rate. According to the United
Nations Publications (2009) the decline has been attributed to increased use of
contraceptives and growing number of woman in employment. An average number of
4.6 children per household presents various implications for the country and the larger
Sub-Saharan Africa. The World Bank recommends an average rate of 2.2 children per
household thus at 4.6, Kenyas growth rate is relatively high. This presents both
favorable and adverse effects on various dimensions of the countrys economic and
social systems.

The increased higher fertility rate increases the young population who will provide
sufficient labor force. However, sufficiency may not really guarantee skilled labor
force unless the education system is improved to ensure all achieve basic education.
Further, in view of the current unemployment rate which stands at 35%. Majority of
the youths may be rendered jobless. This may pose social challenges such as increase
of crime rates and other social vices. These problems can be managed better if the
implementation of the strategies under the social pillar on youth affairs as enshrined
in the Kenya Vision 2030 is fast tracked. That is development of young sporting talent
and capacity building on Youth Enterprise Fund. Moreover, high population growth is
inversely related to economic growth in the long run (Kato, 2016),

REFERENCES AND BIOGRAPHIES

Handbook on Census Management for Population and Housing Censuses.

(2000).

United Nations Publications.

Kato, H. (2016). An Empirical Analysis of Population and Technological Progress.
Tokyo: Springer Japan.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2009). 2009 Kenya Population and Housing
Census Analytical Reports.
The Kenya Population Data Sheet 2011 was prepared by the Population Reference
Bureau's Informing Decision makers to Act (IDEA) project
United Nations Publications. (2009). Completing the Fertility Transition. United
Nations Publications.

Annex

Source: Kenya Population Sheet (2011)