The National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) has cited high illiteracy levels as an impediment to population information access in some parts of Baringo County.
NCPD assistant director in charge of public education, Michael Oruru, said that about 25.8 percent of the population above three years in the region have never been into school.
Oruru noted that Tiaty East and West sub-counties, which are the most affected, recorded over 75 percent illiteracy levels as per the Kenya Demographic Survey (KDS) of 2019 hence it is very difficult for their organization to reach out and support them.
The NCPD assistant director made the remarks during a one-day media training on population and development at Kenya School of Government (KSG), Baringo Campus.
The meeting was attended by journalists and editors from various media houses in the region.
He decried that population issues such as family planning and reproductive health have also been affected because most residents have little idea about it.
Oruru stated that they have now resorted to engagement with different stakeholders especially the media to try and find out strategies that can best be utilized to convey information messages effectively in a county also faced with insecurity challenges.
“We are specifically targeting journalists because we feel that they can give out accurate reporting on population and development programs in order to enlighten the masses,” he said.
Oruru, whose organization shall further engage journalists countrywide, said that from their engagement with media practitioners he is optimistic that they are going to increase public awareness through the various media platforms.
On health status survey, the NCPD official noted that the vast county performed dismally after recording 43 percent latrine coverage and 70 percent open defecation rate, compared with the national estimates of 51 percent and 14 percent respectively.
