New survey shows high cost of living Kenyans’ key worry
High cost of living was cited as the single largest problem facing Kenyans. FILE
What you need to know:
Fifty per cent and 19 per cent of the 2,031 respondents in the survey said inflation and joblessness, respectively, were their most serious problems. A quarter of the respondents, who were all 18 years and above said they occasionally slept hungry.
The pollster said calls for an all-at-once three-pronged strategy consisting of eliminating wastage, ending corruption and stimulating industries would spur growth.
Kenyans see worsening economic conditions as their most pressing problems with the rising cost of living and unemployment of most concern, a new poll by Ipsos Synovate shows.
Fifty per cent and 19 per cent of the 2,031 respondents in the survey said inflation and joblessness, respectively, were their most serious problems. A quarter of the respondents, who were all 18 years and above said they occasionally slept hungry.
“The survey also shows that the cost of living continues as the main issue that worries Kenyans the most with 50 per cent mentioning it when asked to identify whatever they feel the most serious issue is in the country as a whole,” said Ipsos Synovate.
The poll showed a third of poor households (those with estimated household income below Sh10,000), had people going to bed hungry. About 17 per cent of households with total monthly earnings above Sh10,000 had people going hungry.
Corruption and crime or insecurity came third and fourth of the concerns followed by poor leadership, famine, tribalism and poverty. The survey was conducted between February 5 and 8.
Ipsos said attempts to deal with the country’s economic problems through voluntary salary cuts for those in executive positions were only symbolic.
It said substantive measures such as cracking down on the corrupt and corruption as well as wastage in government would do more to bring down the government’s recurrent expenditure.
The pollster said calls for an all-at-once three-pronged strategy consisting of eliminating wastage, ending corruption and stimulating industries would spur growth.
The survey showed that nearly half of all Kenyan households assist someone outside their immediate family with periodic needs.
The majority of Kenyans or 81 per cent rely on government health institutions for medical care with only 17 per cent stating that the last time they needed medical care they visited a private hospital or clinic or doctor.
“Any significant departure of medical staff from the public service as has been recently seen in the resignation of a number of doctors would have a detrimental impact on the nation’s health,” says Ipsos Synovate.
The survey showed that most Kenyans, including half of parents in public schools, believe schools were unprepared for laptops, a key government election promise, because they lacked facilities such as space, desks, and secure storerooms.
The release of the survey results coincided with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s State of the Nation address last Thursday where he put the high prices of basic goods and insecurity top of his agenda this year.
He said high food prices would be tackled through increased production from irrigated fields and supporting individual farmers with cheaper inputs. He said security would be enhanced through new investments in the equipment, welfare and number of police officers.
PAYE Tax Calculator
Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.
