Kenyans worried over high cost of living – IPSOS

Kenyans are concerned with the high cost of living, according to the latest report released by IPSOS.

The report released on Tuesday indicated that most Kenyans identify the living conditions as “the most serious problem the country is facing today” with the survey showing that 36 per cent of Kenyans, in the third quarter, are dissatisfied with the situation, compared to 23 per cent in the second quarter.

Corruption was also singled out as a major concern for Kenyans, with an increase from 21 per cent in the last quarter to 25 per cent in the third quarter.

The report also shows that 12 per cent of Kenyans expressed concern over unemployment, a drop from 17 per cent posted last quarter while 12 per cent of Kenyans feel terrorism and insecurity are a major concern, simillar to the last quarter.

IPSOS also announced that 54 per cent of Jubilee supporters feel the country is headed in the wrong direction compared to 84 per cent of CORD.

Overall, three times as many Kenyans (67 per cent) feel the country is headed in the wrong direction, the highest figure since the March 2013 election and after Westgate Mall Al-Shabaab attack in September, 2013 (64 per cent).

The survey also showed that both CORD and Jubilee supporters have pointed at infrastructure, provision of health services and education as key areas where the government has recorded tremendous achievements.

Amongst the top executive officials, President Uhuru Kenyatta scored the highest confidence rating with over one-third expressing support for him. Deputy President William Ruto scored just over one-quarter giving him a trust level of 28 per cent.

Four times as many Jubilee supporters gave President Kenyatta approval rating (73 per cent) compared to CORD with 20 per cent.

Conversely, three times as many CORD Supporters (75 per cent) disapprove of the president’s performance over this period as do Jubilee supporters at 23 per cent; more than double of the ratings recorded in August 2015 (75:39).

County Commissioners, the Provincial Administration, the National Government as a whole and the Attorney-General scored lower, though not as low as the Cabinet Secretaries (collectively) with only 10 per cent expressing trust in them.

“Altogether, it appears that ratings of government performance is more subject to passing events than is political identity, notwithstanding the quite transient constellation of political parties with which Kenyans have been confronted during recent elections,” said  Dr Tom Wolf, Political analyst at IPSOS.

The target population for the survey, held between November 7 and 19, was Kenyans aged 18 years and above, of whom 2,058 live in urban and rural areas in 41 counties.

The margin-of-error is + or – 2.2 with a 95 per cent confidence level. This, however, varies and is higher for all sub-sections of the sample that are reported.