Bungoma: The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has launched the Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey (KIHBS) in Bungoma County as part of a national effort to measure and analyze the living standards of Kenyans.

According to Kenya News Agency, County Statistics Officer (CSO), Augustine Wanyonyi, stated that the survey aims to provide critical data to guide government policy formulation and planning for the welfare of the population. During a meeting with Assistant County Commissioners in Bungoma at the County Commissioner's boardroom, Wanyonyi detailed that the county has been divided into 28 clusters, with ten households selected in each cluster. The survey, which will run for one year, involves enumerators spending seven days in each selected area.

Wanyonyi elaborated that all household members will be asked questions covering various topics, including education, health, employment, labour, housing, and energy use. He emphasized the importance of cooperation from selected households, highlighting that accurate data is essential for national planning and resource allocation.

He assured that the information collected will be handled with utmost confidentiality, encouraging residents to participate freely and provide truthful responses. This is the third round of the KIHBS survey, following earlier exercises conducted in 2005/06 and 2015/16. KNBS anticipates that the findings will enable the government to assess progress made over time and address emerging social and economic challenges.