The High Court has annulled the 2019 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) census results for Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa counties, citing significant irregularities in the data. Garissa High Court Judge John Onyiego ruled that KNBS failed to meet data integrity standards, resulting in inaccurate population figures for the affected regions.
“The published results in Volume 1 of the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census (KPHC) concerning these areas are hereby cancelled,” Justice Onyiego declared. The affected sub-counties include Mandera North, Mandera West, Banisa, Lafey, Mandera East, Mandera South, Eldas, Tarbaj, Wajir West, Wajir East, Wajir North, Balambala, Lagdera, Dadaab, and Garissa Township.
This ruling follows a lawsuit filed by leaders from the North Eastern region, including the late Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji and Mandera Governor Ali Roba. The leaders argued that KNBS had published inaccurate population figures and named the National Treasury, the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as co-respondents in the case.
Justice Onyiego instructed KNBS to conduct a fresh mini-population census for the affected areas, with a deadline set for January 28, 2026. “A structural interdict order is hereby issued directing KNBS to carry out a new mini-population census for the affected areas within one year from the date of this judgment,” the Judge ruled.
Additionally, the court directed that constitutional bodies such as CRA, IEBC, and the National Treasury should not use the disputed 2019 census data for resource allocation or boundary delimitation. Until a new census is completed, these bodies are to revert to the 2009 census data for decision-making.
Justice Onyiego emphasized that the disputed results had not undergone adequate verification, and that nullifying them was the only viable solution. He further clarified that the use of technology during the census did not affect the integrity of the process.
