Hold on, we’re yet to explain census numbers, says KNBS

KNBS Director-General Zachary Mwangi.

Kenya National Bureau of Standards (KNBS) has said it was yet to analyse the recently-released 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census.

The bureau asked critics, including a section of political leaders, to give them time to explain the census figures that put the total number at 47.6 million. Director-General Zachary Mwangi (pictured) yesterday said several factors were responsible for the unexpected changes in the population in several areas of the country.

The bureau cited migration pattern, urbanisation, fertility and mortality rates as possible factors that might have shaken the numbers to the chagrin of some political leaders who have disputed the results.

“KNBS is yet to analyse the results. We have not looked at age structure, distribution by political units and factors causing change in population,” said Mr Mwangi when he addressed the media in Nairobi.

Mwangi cited Demographic and Health Survey 2014 which he said had indicated a drop in the fertility rate from 4.6 to 3.9, saying it may also explain why some regions recorded a decline in numbers.

According to the 2014 survey cited by Mwangi, the 3.9 rate for the whole country is the lowest ever recorded.

“The decline slowed in the 1990s, but the decrease in the fertility rate from 4.6 in the 2008-09 to the current 3.9 may indicate that Kenya’s fertility is returning to the decline observed from the mid-1970s through the 1990s,” reads the report.

“Some could have moved from Nairobi to other places. We shall have processed data and with that we shall explain the changes we are seeing,” said Mr Jerome Ochieng, ICT Principal Secretary.

He added: “We are engaging our leaders to explain what has been done so that they can appreciate our work. There is credibility of the numbers, we followed international principles and statistics is an organised field.”

The Government Spokesperson Col Cyrus Oguna moderated the media briefing.

Leaders including Tharaka-Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki and several MPs asked the State to review the results claiming the statistics were not accurate.

Turkana leaders also rejected the results and have written to KNBS seeking an explanation on the results in three sub-Counties.

Yesterday, leaders led by the Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok and Turkana parliamentary caucus group chair Christopher Nakuleu, disputed the census outcome in three sub-counties on grounds that the results do not add up to the region projected population as compared to 2009 census.

Mr Joe Kimkung, former MP for Mt Elgon said he was disappointed with the census results.

“During the 2017 elections, the electoral agency register indicated Mt Elgon had 66,220 voters. With the current census results, does it indicate all residents are registered apart from only about 12,000 residents?” queried Kimkung.

[Michael Chepkwony, Paul Thoronjo, Lucas Ngasike, Diana Kimanzi, Titus Too and Bakari Ang’ela]