Infotrak survey: Kenyans divided on whether country is moving in right direction

Forty-three percent of Kenyans feel the country is headed in the right direction, while 40 percent believe it is on the wrong path, according to a new opinion poll released by Infotrak Research and Consulting firm.

The survey, involving 1,538 participants, indicated that 15 percent of Kenyans feel the country is neither headed in the right nor in the wrong direction, while 2 percent have no idea about the course along which the country is moving.

According to the poll released on Sunday, majority (56%) of those who feel the country is on the right path, attribute their optimism to the peace being witnessed in the country, while 26% of them say it is due to the ongoing efforts by the government to fight corruption with 20% being hopeful due to the apparent unity between the government and the opposition.

Fifty-eight percent of those who feel the country is headed the wrong way said their main concern was rampant corruption while 57 percent cited the high cost of living with others blaming it on unemployment and poverty.

Majority of Kenyans, according to the report, supported the ongoing demolition of buildings on public land as well as the arrest and prosecution of senior government officials implicated in various scandal as ways of fighting corruption and impunity.

The Infrotrak survey showed that 64 percent of Kenyans support the demolitions while 32 percent are against the exercise. Majority (73%) of Nairobi residents supported the demolition of buildings on riparian land spearheaded by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.

The research conducted between August 20 and 23 also looked into the famous Kenyatta-Odinga handshake, with 87 percent of Kenyans expressing support for the unity deal. Only 7 percent were against the unity pact between the opposition and opposition leader.