Stats Show Poverty is Reducing in Kenya: What is the Reality on the Ground?

Kenya has been recording incredible economic growth in the last decade, growing at an average annual rate of 5.3 percent, which is higher compared to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Kenya’s economy grew remarkably well especially in 2005- 2006 to 2015-2016, that led to it being considered a vibrant and dynamic technology and business hub in the whole of Africa.

In the fight to reduce poverty in the country, the growth saw about 4.5 million Kenyans including those in the rural areas escape poverty.

The poverty rate was said to have reduced in the country, from 46.8 percent to 36.1 percent of Kenya’s population.

Noting the importance of non-agricultural income to supplement agricultural income saw the number of people in rural areas living below the poverty line considerably reduce from 50 percent in 2005-2006 to 38.8 percent in 2015-2016.

In urban areas, however, the rate of poverty did not improve. Instead, the number of people living in poverty increased to 3.8 million as compared to the initial 2.3 million.

The increase in the number of poor people in urban areas was said to have been caused by a number of issues, including high population, high cost of living and scarcity of jobs.

In fact, a good number of Kenyans working in the city and other urban areas are considered poorer than their counterparts living in rural areas.

Statistics from the county levels show that in the last decade, Northern and North-Eastern counties poverty level have stagnated.

In these counties, it is difficult for residents to access basic service facilities such as hospitals and schools. These are services that have long term effects especially in building human capital.

If people are able to access faster and quality medical services, it would mean that is a healthy and productive nation in terms of building the country’s economy.

In the North and North Eastern counties however, health care access is still so low that only 40 percent of the population can access it as compared to other counties such as those in central Kenya.

Access to education is another factor that needs urgent intervention from the government as only a few people access primary school education and even fewer are admitted to secondary schools mostly due to poverty.

READ ALSO: Rates of Global Extreme Poverty Slows Down – World Bank