 The study presents a methodology to reconstruct population distribution changes over 30 years across the Kenyan coast using multi-temporal high-resolution global settlement layers, historical census data, and latest developments in population distribution modelling methods. The study explores methodological challenges associated with producing gridded population distribution time series in data scarce countries and shows that trade-offs have to be found between spatial and temporal resolutions when selecting the best modelling approach. The work aims to serve as a benchmark for future developments of population distribution time series required for population at-risk estimations and spatial modelling in various fields. This article was authored by Catherine Leonard, Caroline W. Cabaria, Marius Gilbert, and others.