This is how you will find out if you are poor

The economy is projected to be healthily growing at 5.3 % even as the 46% of Kenyans are still living below the poverty line. According to GeoHive rural/urban statistic, as at 2015, 11 million Kenyans are living in urban areas. This is 25.6% of the population. Then there are the burgeoning urban poor who are hole up in different slum located in almost every town. They are considered functional and are mostly situated close to the green suburbs to provide the much needed low-cost labor. Proximity allows them to save on transport, work for long hours and strategically for prevalent perpetration of crimes against the rich.

The statistics and dynamics aside, there is irony in defining poverty especially in urban areas. There is a tendency of mistaking external flamboyant appearance with loaded pockets. On the contrary it is easy to assume that the jaded and unkempt man running spare parts store downtown and living in a no-so-good neighborhood is struggling to make ends meet. The reality is that there are many poor people living is some of the “up-town” estates, dressed in fitting suits from Eastliegh and even driving the latest models of second-hand cars. They have assorted credit cards, a big smartphone along with a dangling Mercedes Benz branded car keys. So, how can you tell the sophisticated “rich” poor? Lifestyle and priorities: