This archive report was first published on 9 November 2019.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo has joined leaders dismissing the 2019 National Census results, citing discrepancies in the population figures for his county.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), West Pokot has a population of 621,241 people, which the governor claims is 'strange' and does not add up.
The county has the highest birth rate in the country, with a fertility rate of 7.2 per cent, and nearly every woman has seven to eight children, the governor reiterated.
He attended the graduation ceremony at the West Pokot Teachers College after returning from the US and stated that he will consider taking legal action against the KNBS.
“We expected the numbers to be higher. Where did they hide our people? Who killed our people? And who is making our mothers not give birth?” the governor said.
He also pointed out that in 2009, Pokot North sub County had 156,011 people, but the 2019 count indicated only 134,485 people, leading him to question whether the women in the area were barren or had refused to give birth for ten years.
“Does it mean Pokot North women are barren or have refused to give birth for ten years and men are dry? Only few people have died,” said Lonyangapuo.
He further stated that North Pokot Sub County has more than 200,000 women and 60,000 children, and that more than 540 children are born every month in Kapenguria hospital and 60,000 every year.
“There seems to be a plot to economically and politically disadvantage some regions”, Lonyangapuo said, adding that population figures are critical in deciding the share of the national cake that a region gets.
Published on November 9, 2019.
