The rich control half of Kenya’s wealth – report

BY ALEX NDEGWA
The Standard,
Saturday, November 18, 2006.

The rich control almost a half of the country’s wealth while the poorest Kenyans own less than one per cent of the national income, says a new report.

It says the 10 per cent richest households control 42 per cent of the national income with 10 per cent of the poorest households controlling less than one per cent.

This shows that Kenya is among the most unequal societies, concludes the report on the National Conference on Equity and Growth.

The report, prepared by three international agencies, points out glaring disparities in the distributiona of resources in health and education across regions, with Central having an edge. Life expectancy is lowest in Mombasa and highest in Meru.

It observes that the ratio of a doctor to the population is six times lower in North Eastern than in Central.

There is one doctor for every 20,000 people in Central Province compared to one for every 120,000 people in North Eastern Province.

It notes that the immunisation coverage in Nyanza is at 38 per cent as compared to that of 79 per cent in Central Province. The region inevitably records a low child mortality rate.

According to the report, Mombasa has the lowest life expectancy rate of 33 years as compared to Meru, whose life expectancy is 68 years.

On education, it says stagnation in infrastructure development despite growing population and improved enrolment occasioned by free primary education is stretching available facilities.

The country’s 17,000 primary schools translate into 70-odd students per class/teacher, observes the report, which is well above the recommended 40 students per teacher.

It also cites disparity in elective politics with women being discriminated.

The report is prepared by the Society for International Development-East Africa, ActionAid International-Kenya, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency and the African Woman and Child Feature Service.

It, however, notes that the strong economic growth the country has registered recently — 5.8 per cent growth posted last year which is a first in 15 years — is a good point of departure for the pursuit of growth and equity.