Survey: Most Kenyans sleep hungry

At least eight out of every ten Kenyans go to bed either on an empty stomach or without having had enough to eat, according to a survey.

The Ipsos survey released yesterday states that while three out of ten Kenyans go to bed without eating, another five are go to bed having not had enough to eat.

Respondents from  Western, Coast and Nyanza seemed to the most affected with 76,67, and 62 per cent admitting of either not having enough to eat or knowing someone who does not.

Also 45, 48 and 35 per cent of the same demographic respectively admitted to suffering due to lack of food. North Eastern was the least affected with only 15 per cent not having enough to eat while nine per cent having no food at all.

In terms of the country’s main political divide, such ‘bedtime hunger’ is nearly twice as common in CORD households (41 per cent versus 23 per cent). “Regionally, such a food deficit is highest in Coast, Nyanza and Western, and lowest in Rift Valley, Central and North Eastern,” read the report.

These are the same areas that were portrayed to be suffering from high poverty levels with 53, 47 and 41 per cent of those polled from Western, Coast and Nyanza regions respectively stating that many people from their areas are poor.

Of the eight areas (former provinces) CORD supporters were notably the most affected as many of them—43 per cent versus 35 per cent Jubilee —admitted to high poverty levels.

Most victims are said to be poor with 59 per cent of those earning below Sh10,000 stating that their lives have worsened in the last three months.

“Just over half of all Kenyans (52 per cent) reported their lives having worsened “during the last three months”, with nearly three times as many Jubilee as CORD supporters of the view that they had improved during this same period (28 versus 11 per cent),” read the survey.

Ipsos Lead Researcher Tom Wolf noted that such a scenario should not be dismissed as the General Election nears.

“When people are poor they may end up being so supportive of the Opposition in a bid to avert the situation or join the ruling administration to enjoy these benefits,” said Wolf.

According to the survey, provision of jobs was the most suitable solution to avert the poverty. Half of all respondents mentioned jobs (49 cent), which received more mentions than any other measures in all eight regions.

Others mentioned were agriculture, education, cost of living, water provision, business loans, corruption, welfare funds, good roads, security and politics. And majority of Kenyans do not think President Uhuru Kenyatta will succeed in curbing corruption in government. According to the survey, 54 per cent of those polled expressed their hopelessness in President Kenyatta’s likelihood to succeed in war on corruption.

This is despite a polarised number of Kenyans (44 per cent) with more Jubilee supporters (67) compared to CORD (19) affirming Kenyatta’s sincerity to weed out graft.