In a landmark ruling on January 28, 2025, the High Court of Kenya sitting in Garissa annulled the 2019 population data for Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa counties, citing significant irregularities in the census process.
The court’s decision is set to trigger a fresh census in the affected regions within the next year, as it found that the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) failed to meet essential data integrity standards during the exercise.
The ruling came after a case was filed by Hon Abdullahi Bashir Sheik and 24 other petitioners in Constitutional Petition No. 4 of 2020, consolidated with seven other similar petitions.
The petitioners argued that the 2019 census results for the three counties were flawed and did not accurately reflect the population.
The case was filed against KNBS and other constitutional bodies, including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“The 2019 census data for Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa has been shown to be riddled with inaccuracies and inconsistencies,” ruled the judge, who delivered the judgment.
“The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics failed to adhere to the fundamental standards of data integrity, which has led to the false reporting of population figures for these counties.”
The court’s decision bars any constitutional bodies, including the IEBC, from using the disputed 2019 census data for official purposes, a move with far-reaching implications for electoral and governance processes in the affected counties.
The ruling comes after the petitioners raised concerns that the flawed census data had already been used in critical national decisions, including electoral representation and resource allocation.
The census results, particularly in the northern counties, had been questioned for their credibility even before the court case.
In a statement following the court’s ruling, Hon Abdullahi Bashir Sheik, one of the petitioners, expressed his satisfaction with the judgment, emphasizing the importance of accurate data for fair representation and resource distribution.
“We are pleased with the court’s decision to annul the 2019 census data for these counties,” said Sheik.
“This ruling ensures that the rights of our people will no longer be undermined by inaccurate population figures. We look forward to a fresh census that reflects the true demographic realities of Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa.”
The decision has been hailed by local leaders and residents who have long argued that the census data did not accurately capture the populations of these areas, leading to discrepancies in development funding and political representation.
The government now faces a deadline to conduct a new census in the three counties within the next year.
Officials from KNBS have yet to comment on the ruling, but the court’s order marks a significant step in ensuring transparency and accountability in national data collection processes.
