As a developing country, Kenya faces a major challenge when it comes to poverty eradication. According to the latest World Bank report, at least 46% of Kenyans live below the poverty line. That means they’re basically making less than a dollar a day. On paper, the stats about Kenya may seem correct. However, the following are some of the 10 things you may not know about poverty in Kenya:
1. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas
Statistics usually indicate that poverty is evident in all parts of Kenya. However, this is far from the truth. Poverty can be associated with a particular region because of political or social influence. Although agriculture is the backbone of the country and around 79% of the population engages in agricultural activities, the same people who contribute to the breadbasket are also the poorest.
2. The poor and the rich live side by side
Usually, prosperity is known in a society that occupy the suburban or gated communities, while the poor live in solitude in the slums. In Kenya, the slums are next to the posh neighborhoods. The rich depend on the poor for their household, but pay them peanuts even though they are fully aware of their situation.
3. Government is the leader in creating poverty
Every nation expects the government to be at the forefront of fighting poverty and promoting economic growth and development. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Kenya. The government is one of the main reasons behind the porosity issue as it has the highest wage bill funded by the poor taxpayer while lagging behind in initiating development projects.
4. Many people see poverty as a curse
The education system has really improved compared to lastyears. Gender equality and free primary and secondary education are provided as part of reducing illiteracy and poverty. Although many Kenyans have learned, they still see poverty as a cultural curse and believe that if you are born poor you will always be poor.
5. Living in a slum doesn’t necessarily mean you’re poor
The definition of being poor in Kenya is relative. Living in a slum does not mean you are financially impoverished. In fact, a tour of the slum might really shock you. The slum is home to very wealthy individuals who find the environment ideal. It’s common to find a slum dweller with the latest electronic gadgets such as laptops, smartphones and plasma TVs costing more than 10 times the rent of their house.
6. Western countries contribute to increasing poverty
Reports will always show that Western countries initiate development projects in rural areas through economic partnership and non-governmental organizations. What most people don’t realize is that although they make huge profits, most are not even invested in Kenya.
7. Some people don’t mind being poor
“Hakuna Matata” is a common saying in Kenya. It basically means no worries. A poor person would probably be expected to spend sleepless nights trying to earn a living. However, this is not the case in Kenya. Some poor people prefer to ask for newsletters or see poverty as their friend rather than trying to get out of it.
8. The rich don’t invest in the country
Local industries that rely entirely on the internet, local resources and people will siphon off most of their wealth and invest it outside of the country rather than reinvest in the region. This is particularly the case in the minerals industry, where investors enjoy tax holidays and exemptions while investing assets in countries known as tax havens.
9. Poverty and high birth rate are directly related
It is a well-known fact that raising childrenrequires significant resources. Poor people are therefore expected to have a lower birth rate than the wealthy of society. This is exactly the opposite in Kenya. The poor have an average of four to six children per household, while the rich have one or two children.
10. Despite being a poor country, Kenyans lead a rich lifestyle
As a developing country, one would expect to find minimal luxuries in the country. Oddly enough, Kenya has a very large number of top-of-the-line luxury cars, top-of-the-line yachts, as well as a pool of very wealthy individuals living in both the highland region of the country and the coastal region.
Although the government is trying to come up with poverty, it remains a major obstacle to the Kenyan economy. Aside from the above reasons which are the 10 things you may not know about poverty in Kenya, they also stand in the way of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as Vision 2030.