ODM nominated Senator Crystal Asige has renewed the debate on how Kenya collects and uses population data, warning that gaps in official records continue to disadvantage minority groups.
In a statement shared on X on Thursday to mark the International Day of Minorities, the senator said exclusion persists because national systems are not designed to capture the realities of marginalized communities.
Asige focused her remarks on the national census, describing it as a critical planning tool that has failed to account for groups such as ethnic and linguistic minorities, refugees, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
She said the consequences of incomplete data extend beyond statistics, directly influencing funding decisions and access to public services.
Citing disability data, Asige noted that persons with disabilities account for about 15 per cent of the global population, yet Kenya’s most recent census recorded them at only 2.2 per cent.
She attributed the disparity to stigma, inaccessible data collection methods, and limited definitions of disability used during enumeration exercises.
According to the senator, undercounting leads to systemic neglect.
She said communities that are not fully reflected in official data are often overlooked in government planning, budgeting, and policy implementation.
Asige stressed that this pattern is not due to a lack of potential among marginalized groups but to structural barriers embedded in public systems.
Kenya’s census plays a central role in shaping national and county-level planning, including the allocation of resources and the design of social programmes.
Population data is also used to inform policies on health, education, housing, and social protection, making accuracy a key concern for inclusive governance.
Asige urged policymakers and institutions responsible for data collection to prioritise reforms that ensure all communities are counted.
She said inclusive and reliable disability data is essential if Kenya is to meet its constitutional obligations on equality and non-discrimination.
Her remarks come as Kenya joins other countries in observing the International Day of Minorities, a global event that highlights the rights and challenges of minority groups.
Asige called for a shift from symbolic recognition to practical action, arguing that meaningful inclusion begins with credible data.
“If we are not counted, we do not count,” she said, linking visibility in national records to equal participation in public life and access to state support.