Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) suffered a setback after a High Court of Kenya sitting at Garissa nullified the census for three counties- Mandera, Wajir and Garissa.
In a statement shared by the Judiciary on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, the court established that KNBS failed to uphold fundamental data integrity standards, leading to inaccurate population figures for the affected regions.
“The Court found that the KNBS failed to uphold fundamental data integrity standards during the 2019 census leading to inaccurate population figures for the affected areas,” a statement shared by Judiciary read in part.
The judge also annulled the results of nearly all Garissa sub-counties, including those from Balambala, Lagdera, Dadaab, and Garissa townships. In Wajir, Justice Onyiego cancelled the results for Eldas, Tarbaj, Wajir West, Wajir North, and Wajir East.
Following the ruling, Justice John Onyiengo ordered a fresh census to be conducted within a year but asked the said counties to continue using the data until fresh numbers are tabulated.
“That a structural interdict order be and I hereby issued directing the KNBS to conduct a fresh mini-population census in respect to Mandera North, Mandera West, Banisa, Lafey, Mandera East and Mandera sub-counties(constituencies)Eldas, Tarbaj, Wajir West, Wajir East and Wajir North sub-counties (constituencies), Balambala, Lagdera, Dadaab, Garissa Township sub- counties(constituencies) within a period of one year from the date of delivery of this judgment,” Justice Onyiego directed.
IEBC barred from using data
Following the ruling, the High Court announced that all constitutional bodies including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will barred from using census data from the three counties.
Other professional bodies that use census data to make critical decisions have been barred from using 2019 census data from Mandera, Wajir and Garissa.
“The impact of the Judgement is that all constitutional bodies including IEBC are barred from using the disputed data census for official purposes,” the court said.
