The 2019 National Population and Housing Census result continues to elicit mixed reactions from the political class and the electorate given its significance in revenue allocation.
For the Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, the figures which were made public on Monday, November 4, exposed the clandestine agenda in the previous census held in 2009.
According to Kuria, the former minister of State for Planning and National Development Wycliffe Oparanya conspired with ODM leader Raila Odinga to inflate numbers in particular regions.
Now the Kakamega governor, Oparanya was among ministers who served in the grand coalition government and operated from Raila’s office, who the prime minister between 2008 and 2013.
“The Census results prove many but mainly one thing. 2009 was a fraud of monumental proportions. A section of this country held the nation hostage and the census figures were the ransom. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya and his boss Raila Odinga acquiesced for political expediency,” he said.
However, the lawmaker gave the 2019 count a clean bill of health but was quick to stress on the need for a unified nation so that people do not feel disfranchised regardless of the population.
“Shame! Now the people who cooked the 2009 census ensured they ate the bigger portion of the national cake by keeping the rest of the country divided. Once we unite this country they are out of business. I hereby officially accept the Census results. No VAR, no Supreme Court. Let’s move to the next level in our national discourse,” he added.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics put the Kenyan population at 47,564, 296 per the August 2019 exercise.
It also ranked Nairobi as the most populous county in Kenya with 4,397,073 people.
Kiambu county was came second with 2,417,735 people, followed by Nakuru (2,162,202) and Kakamega at fourth place with 1,867,579 people.
Least populated counties; Taita Taveta (340,671 44), Tana River (315,943 45) Samburu (310,327 46), Isiolo (268,002 47), Lamu (143,920).
The numbers will be key in resource allocation to each county
