A Third of Kenyan Workers Are Extremely Poor

It seems like employment in Kenya is not a direct ticket to richness as a third of Kenyan workers are languishing in poverty despite having jobs.

Kenyans who have secured jobs have no guarantee of living a decent life as a number of them have been caught up living below the poverty line, spending less than 197 shillings per day or 5000 shillings per month.

This is according to the Standard Development goals (SDG) 2019 report by the United Nations, which show that the poverty situation in Sub-Saharan Africa is still an issue despite a rapid decline poverty rate over the past 25 years.

The recent report ranks Kenya at position eight worldwide and at position six in Africa as countries with the largest number of individuals languishing in extreme poverty.

Efforts to reduce the working poverty in the affected countries has also slowed down over the past years.

The report revealed that substandard jobs have been an issue, with workers having jobs that are paying less than what can sustain their living.

A report by the Central Bank of Kenya had also shown that Kenyan have opted to borrow to finance their household requirements and put food on the table due to the high living standards.

Young workers of ages between 15 to 25 are the most likely to live in poverty with their total number being double as compared to that of older ages.

Asian countries have significantly evaded poverty in the past 25 years with statistics showing that Eastern Asia had the poverty rate dropping from 52 percent in the 90s to less than one percent in 2015.

According to the 17 SDGs adopted by UN, developing countries should work towards ensuring that poverty is reduced or eradicated by 2030.

Despite having these goals, and poverty eradication topping the list, most developing countries have been on a slow mode towards adopting suitable strategies.

UN warns that poverty rate in sub-Saharan African countries might double by 2030 if a different turn is not taken to ensure its eradication.