The level of poverty in Kenya has risen by four per cent since 1997, the countrys Poverty Eradication Commission has said.
Dr Gilbert Olouch, the commissions chairman, said by the end of last year, 60 per cent of the east African countrys population lived below the poverty line.
The figure is pegged on the rate of consumption of less than a dollar a day. This means that 18 million out of Kenyas 30 million inhabitants fall within the poverty bracket. A 1997 survey put the figure at 56 per cent.
Speaking at Namanga, Oluoch said more Kenyans are poor today than there were five years ago. – The number of the poor increased from 3,7 million in 1972 to 11,5 million in 1994. By end of last year, this number was estimated to have risen to 18 million in a population of 30 million, he said.
Oluoch said the prevalence rate could be higher in Nyanza, North Eastern and Coast provinces. – This figure represents the proportion of Kenyans who cannot afford a decent meal, shelter, access to basic healthcare and education for their children, he said.
– The situation is made worse by the fact that 3,8 million out of the countrys labour force of 14 million are either unemployed or under-employed, he said.
Oluoch said poverty was rampant in sections of the population such the landless, pastoralists, subsistence farmers, casual labourers, retrenched employees, female-headed households, people with disabilities, Aids orphans and street families.
Though the Government has measures to reduce poverty, the high rate of inflation and the sluggish rate of economic growth have undermined the effort.
Last year, the country was hit by a severe drought that left more than three million people, mainly in the arid and semi-arid areas, hungry.
The Governments anti-poverty programmes received a shot in the arm last year when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) funded it to the tune of 26 billion Kenya shilling.
But in its review of the programme last month, the Fund expressed displeasure at the way the money was being spent. It demanded that the Government redirects expenditure to core poverty fighting ministries of education, health, agriculture and roads.
– Notwithstanding strong revenue growth, expenditure has been tightened substantially in the face of domestic financing problems. Uncertain donor support is also threatening implementation of the poverty reduction programme and the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals, said Godfrey Kalinga, the head of the IMF team, who was in the country last month to review the programme.
Oluoch called on the Government to put in place urgent intervention measures to cushion the poor from the effects of rising inflation and high cost of living.
– The Poverty Eradication Commission believes that macro-economic stability is the foundation upon which Kenya can build a healthy economy and reduce poverty in the long-run, he said adding: – There is an urgent need to strengthen initiatives that are targeting impoverishment in our communities.
Oluoch said the commission had spent 124 million Kenya shilling in supporting community-based anti-poverty projects in 47 districts. The commission, in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations had organised a week-long campaign to sensitise people on poverty.
The campaign dubbed “make poverty history” encourages people to be innovative (nytænkende) in the fight against poverty.
Kilder: East African Standard og The Push Journal
