Solomon Sundu Questions Basis of Kenema’s Population Ranking
Solomon Sundu has questioned the basis for claims that Kenema is Sierra Leone’s most populated city, pointing to concerns over census participation and the reliability of population data.
Speaking during an interview on AYV’s Wake Up Sierra Leone programme, Sundu argued that questions remain about population figures if some residents did not participate in the census exercise.
Sundu said the failure of some people to register could affect confidence in the figures used to determine the population of cities and districts.
Official data, however, provides a different picture. Statistics Sierra Leone’s 2021 Mid-Term Population and Housing Census recorded Kenema City’s population at 255,110, compared with 200,443 in the 2015 census.
The census recorded Kenema District separately, with its population comprising Kenema City and surrounding chiefdoms. This distinction is important when comparing population figures because a district figure cannot automatically be treated as the population of the city itself.
Sundu’s comments come as Sierra Leone prepares for its next national Population and Housing Census. Statistics Sierra Leone conducted a 2026 mock census in Kenema District in July as part of preparations for the nationwide exercise scheduled for December.
The mock exercise was designed to test field procedures and identify potential challenges before the national enumeration, with officials urging residents to cooperate with census personnel to support accurate data collection.
Sundu’s remarks therefore raise questions about public participation and confidence in population statistics, while the official census figures remain the published basis for population estimates until new census results are available.