By Macharia Kamau

Priorities among many Kenyans are fast shifting, with material wealth and social standing becoming increasingly important while what has been traditionally valued, like family and religion, becoming secondary.

According to a new survey by Consumer Insight Africa, Kenyans care more about money, work-related networks and social status.

“Every Kenyan loves their family, but there is plenty they love more. As revealed by the newest Maisha study, large segments of the Kenyan population are increasingly concerned with higher income and social connections to the exclusion of anything else,” said Consumer Insight.

“What’s more, ‘I’ve got cash to make, people to see, cocktails to attend, deals to seal’ is the likely response when one is invited to a religious event or even a health-check.

“At some point they do stop, for entertainment, as shown by their use of devices — but that too exists within the context of what they call ‘the hustle’: a never-ending search for money, networks and status.”

The survey also looked at the use of new technologies including new communication media and payment systems and found that most of the respondents felt that ATMs, social networking sites, mobile phones and mobile money had made their lives better.

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