MPs from Northern Kenya have rejected the census results released yesterday and the pledge to repeat the count in eight districts, including parts of North Eastern Province and the North Rift.
They accused Planning Minister Wycliffe Oparanya of fostering marginalisation through what they alleged were deliberate and suspect undercounting of their constituents.
They threatened not to co-operate with a repeat census, which the minister announced would be done after a month. The minister said the results in affected areas were cancelled due to sex ratios and tallies that do not cohere with projections.
The MPs held a press conference yesterday, where they accused the Government of bad faith and later continued with their accusations against in the chambers.
Turkana Central MP David Ekwee Ethuuro declared that by rejecting results from Turkana North, Mandera Central, Lagdera and other areas of the North, local people have cause to believe "the State is not ready for us."
Court action
"I wish to ask the minister, is northern Kenya still being marginalised through you?" Ethuuro said and threatened court action against any repeat count. Nominated MP Muhamed Abdi Affey called for the suspension of results and argued the alleged anomalies and conduct of census officials had tainted the integrity of the entire count. Affey alleged the total count for NEP has been understated and results for most areas brought into question.
The MP said the delay of results for these parts would affect the creation of new electoral districts there and affect planning.
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