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Critics say the census will be misused by politicians and could damage efforts to heal rifts between communities. The BBC's Will Ross, in Nairobi, says ethnic divisions are deeply rooted in Kenyan society and many people are proud of their tribe. But he says some people say they intend to answer "I am a Kenyan", when asked which group they belong to. Collins Opiyo, from the National Bureau of Statistics, said it would have been "an exhibition of professional recklessness" to leave out questions about tribes. "If we do not have the official position and people come up with figures and numbers we cannot be able to dispute them," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. The census is intended to shed light on a range of issues including education, fertility and mortality levels as well as migration patterns. Security has been beefed up for the census, which is due to begin at 1500 local time (1800 GMT) and will last all week. Tuesday has been declared a public holiday as officials encourage people to answer the questions.