Graft, rising cost of living top Kenyans' concerns of 2015

Politics and policy

Ipsos Kenya survey polled respondents on corruption, cost of living, politics, employment, economy and security. NATION MEDIA GROUP 

By Doreen Wainainah

In Summary

• Ipsos survey reveals that nearly half of Kenyans see the six economic pillars worsening in 2015. The pillars polled are corruption, cost of living, political climate, employment opportunities, economic conditions and security.

Kenyans are anxious on policy issues as they usher in the New Year.

Based in economic pillars, a new survey by Ipsos Kenya shows that Kenyans are most concerned about policy issues in 2015.

The report revealed that nearly half of them see the six economic pillars worsening in 2015. 49 per cent held view that corruption would worsen, 47 per cent saw an increase in the cost of living, while 46 per cent thought the political climate would remain gloomy.  

Employment opportunities were also on the list of those expected to be getting worse along with economic conditions with 44 per cent respectively holding this view.

Security, which has been a topic of contention in 2014, was expected to worsen. However the data was collected prior to changes made in the security docket and the President’s assent on the new security law.

READ: Joseph Boinett nominated as Inspector-General of Police

ALSO READ: Nkaiserry takes charge as Kenya’s Interior minister

The survey also indicated that top on the list of what Kenyans expected to achieve was higher savings. 39 per cent said that they were looking to increase their savings by the end of 2015.

Of the 2,190 respondents, 22 per cent wanted to get a job while 11 per cent wanted to further their education with a similar number seeking to develop their spirituality.

In a similar survey carried out on expectations for 2014, Kenyans were less pessimistic on the employment situation, with 37 per cent compared to 44 per cent this year thinking it would worsen.

Good health and exercise ranked poorly on the goals for the New Year, as the country faces an increase in lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity and cancer. Only one per cent of the respondents looked at health and exercise as goals for 2015.