Cost of Living Biggest Worry, Say Pollsters

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Nzau Musau

21 July 2011

The most serious problem facing the country today is the high cost of living, according a Synovate opinion poll released yesterday. This was voted by 66 per cent of those polled. In April, the same was cited as biggest problem of the time but then scored 34 per cent. Since April, prices of essentials commodities such as maize flour, dry maize, cooking oil, fuel, milk and bread have increased tremendously. A 90 kg bag of dry maize which in April cost between Sh2,000 and Sh2,600 now costs between Sh4,000 and Sh4,800.

Majority of Kenyans, 56 per cent also feel that corruption has increased in the last six months while 21 per cent feel it has decreased. The Attorney General’s office was cited as the least committed in the fight against graft followed by parliament, Vice President, President and Prime Minister in that order. The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission which has announced amnesty measures for graft suspects was voted by 78 per cent of those polled for its commitment to fight the vice. Lack of political will was cited as the greatest difficult in the implementation of the new constitution followed by corruption, lack of cohesion and lack of awareness on the part of the populace. The overall performance of the coalition government also dropped significantly.

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