Naema Celestine Joy Sitati
Inforack has released the results of its voice of the people poll, which collected views from 1500 Kenyans aged between 18 and above across all the 47 counties on the 18th and 19th December 2023.
According to the survey 55% of kenyans are struggling to make ends meet while 18%are in severe financial distress. Only 5% of Kenyans surveyed are comfortably managing the current economic situation.
North Eastern, Coast and Rift Valley stood out as the regions with the highest number of respondents either struggling or are in severe financial distress.
INFOTRACK RESEARCH
North Eastern- 78%
Coast-76%
Central-74%
Rift Valley- 73%
The age brackets most affected were 18-26 yrs and over 55 yrs.
MOST AFFECTED
18-26 yrs -77%
over 55 yrs- 77%
To cope up with the current economic downstrain,
45% of Kenyans have taken up side hustles while 41% have reduced non-essential expenditure and 18% have taken out loans.
48% of the respondents reported undergoing stress and anxiety, 32% hav experienced strain in their personal relationships while 21% have had physical health issues while 18% have had mental health challenges.
Coast reported the highest level of stress and anxiety at 61% followed by Eastern at 51% and Western at 50%. As a means to soften the blow of economic hardships, 48% of Kenyans surveyed turned to family and friends, 24% received government support while 19% received support from non-governmental organisations.
The majority of the respondents predicted tough times ahead with 67% expecting school fees to go up, 56% thinking that unemployment will increase while 52% predict that the shilling will continue its downward trend against the dollar. 51% think that the cost of energy will increase.
26% of Kenyans have appealed to the government to reduce the cost of living, with 13% suggesting a reduction of fuel prices and creation of more employment opportunities . 12% have suggested a reduction in taxation and the cost of education.
The new infotrack survey paints a bleak picture of Kenya’s economic situation. The question remains whether President William Ruto will hit to calls to lower the cost of fuel and basic commodities to bring down the cost of living.
