At the marketplace. [Photo/travelstart.co.ke]
Majority of Kenyans are of the opinion that 2017 was an extremely difficult year with the high cost of living being cited as thegreatest challenge.
The Year End survey carried out by research firm Trends & Insights For Africa – TIFA indicate that 75% of Kenyans feel that 2017 was worse than 2016. However, many Kenyans are hopeful that the New Year will bring good tidings.
According to the poll conducted between 12th and 16th December 2017 and released on Thursday, the main challenge faced in 2017 was the high cost of living at 64% followed by political tensions at 52% with unemployment ranked 3rd at 25%.
The highest mentions of this challenge were in North Eastern (82%) followed by Nyanza (72%).
Political tension was prevalent in North Eastern at (71%) followed by Nyanza and Coast both at 59%.
TIFA CEO Maggie Ireri says the prolonged electioneering period coupled with drought impacted negatively on the economy and this resulted to high inflation and reduced employment prospects.
“The crisis in Kenya was not only evident in political tension but also in the wallets of many citizens who could not afford to purchase basic food commodities such as maize flour, milk, and sugar, whose prices rose sharply and in some instances by over 200%. 2017 was the year when food prices became the yardstick for Kenya’s economic performance in the eyes of the ordinary mwananchi,” says Ms Ireri.
The report further says Kenya lowered its 2017 economic growth forecast from 6.1% to 5.5% due to drought and political uncertainty.
The agriculture sector contributes to about 26% of GDP and employs over 40% of the total population and over 70% of Kenya’s rural population.
The survey targeted Kenyans aged above 18 years and sampled 1,005 respondents living in urban and rural areas.