Poverty in Kenya is a complex paradox that requires an in-depth look to appreciate and understand. In 2013, this East African nation of around 40 million people was ranked 145th out of 186 countries on the Human Development Index by the United Nations Development Programme. The index ranks countries around the world in terms of standard of living, life expectancy and level of education.
To shed some light on the often controversial and politically contentious issue of poverty in Kenya, we have compiled ten themes that define poverty levels in Kenya.
1. About half of the Kenyan population lives in absolute property
While Kenya made very admirable progress after gaining independence from the British in the early 1960s from absolute poverty, this momentum waned in the late 1970s. In 1981, about half of Kenya’s population lived below the poverty line. This statistic has since remained fairly consistent as today about 51% of the population lives in absolute poverty.
2. Most of Kenya’s poor live in rural areas
About 79% of Kenyans live in rural areas where they depend on subsistence agriculture for their livelihood. While most of these people live in areas that show good to high agricultural potential, this land accounts for only about 18% of the entire country. Because of this, resources are largely limited to providing meaningful income for the vast majority of the population. In fact, the population density is so high that in areas with high agricultural potential it is about six times higher than the national average of 55 inhabitants per square kilometer.
3. Erratic weather and climate change have contributed to high levels of poverty
The rural economy is almost entirely dependent on subsistence farming, which accounts for around 75% of the county’s total agricultural output. Most of these farmers depend solely on rain, and little irrigation or modern animal husbandry takes place. In recent years, erratic weather patterns and the effects of climate change have severely affected the lives of rural poor in Kenya.
4. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has pushed even more Kenyans into poverty
Since the mid-1980s, the scourge of HIV/AIDS has taken a heavy hit on the Kenyan healthcare sector and economy. The HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is highest among young and middle-aged Kenyans, who make up the most productive segment of the population. Mainly due to the pandemic, life expectancy in Kenya fell to 46 years in 2006. While life expectancy has since increased to over 55 years, the economy has yet to recover sufficiently to offset the loss in productivity.
5. Explosive population growth has strained infrastructure and services, driving more Kenyans into poverty
Kenya has one of the highest population growth rates in the world. This puts enormous pressure on infrastructure and resources as everyone tries to make a living.
6. The arid northern regions of the country are populated by poor communities
Large areas in the north of the country, especially near the borders with South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, are inhabited by nomadic communities. Dependent on raising livestock and living in areas neglected by both the colonial and subsequent independent Kenyan governments, these communities are extremely poor. Most of them are completely dependent on food aid from the government and international humanitarian organizations.
7. Rural women are a vulnerable group when it comes to poverty
Largely because of the entrenchment of traditional cultural values, the vast majority of women living in rural areas are deprived of the opportunity to earn an income. With most communities excluding women from owning property, women living in rural areas are a particularly vulnerable group. In addition, the HIV/AIDS scourge has helped proliferate the number of households populated by impoverished women.
8. Rooted corruption makes poverty alleviation difficult
According to Transparency International, Kenya is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. With a large share of government money for social and development spending going into the pockets of individuals, ending poverty in Kenya is becoming even more difficult.
9. Lack of economic diversity leads to high levels of poverty
While Kenya has a relatively more dynamic economy, it is overly dependent on agriculture than its immediate East African neighbors. To significantly reduce poverty levels, more needs to be done to diversify industrial production and the service sector so that more Kenyans find formal employment and thus a stable source of income.
10. Increased literacy rates have not affected poverty in Kenya
Kenya has one of the highest literacy rates in sub-Saharan Africa with over 85% of the population over the age of 15 being able to read and write. Despite such impressive statistics, poverty in Kenya has stubbornly remained at the same level over the past few decades.