(Nairobi) – Kenya’s poverty rate has edged closer to 40%, with millions struggling to meet basic needs, particularly in rural and arid regions, according to new data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
Kenya’s poverty rate has reached 39.8%, with a significant portion of the population living below the poverty line. This means that more than 20 million Kenyans are unable to sustain themselves adequately. Among urban dwellers, 33.2% spend less than KSh 8,000 per month, while in rural areas, 42.9% of people spend less than KSh 4,300 monthly. This disparity underscores the growing gap in income and living standards between urban and rural populations.
According to the KNBS, food insecurity is one of the most pressing issues. About 16 million Kenyans are struggling to afford basic food. In rural areas, 33.2% of households cannot spend more than KSh 2,600 per month on food, while in urban centers, 28.6% are unable to spend more than KSh 3,500. The situation is particularly dire in the arid and semi-arid regions, which have been hit hardest by droughts and failed harvests. For instance, counties like Turkana, Mandera, Samburu, and Marsabit have food poverty rates exceeding 50%, with Turkana alone at 64.3%.
In urban areas, the combination of declining incomes and rising unemployment has led to higher levels of food poverty. Despite Nairobi having the lowest overall poverty rate in the country at 15.8%, it has the highest number of food-insecure individuals, with 4.6% of the city’s population classified as food poor.
The impact of poverty is not evenly distributed across the country. Counties such as Turkana, Mandera, Samburu, Tana River, Marsabit, and Wajir report the highest levels of overall poverty. In contrast, wealthier counties like Nairobi, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyeri, and Narok have the lowest poverty rates.
Gender plays a significant role in poverty levels. Female-headed households are poorer than those led by men, with a poverty rate of 35.3% compared to 32.6% for male-headed households. Additionally, households headed by older individuals are more likely to be poor, with the poverty rate increasing from 23.4% among those aged 20-29 to 46% for households headed by individuals aged 70 and above.
Education also influences poverty rates. More than 50% of households living below the poverty line are headed by individuals with only a primary education, while just 1% of such households are led by individuals with tertiary education. This shows that higher education plays a significant role in lifting households out of poverty.
Family size further exacerbates the poverty challenge. Households with fewer children are generally less likely to be poor. Urban households with three members are significantly less likely to be impoverished than those with seven or more members. Nationally, households with children experience higher poverty rates, with 38% of households with children living below the poverty line, compared to 24% for those without children. The situation is particularly severe in Turkana, where 81% of children live in poverty, compared to just 19% in Kiambu.
| Key Statistics | Details |
|---|---|
| National Poverty Rate | 39.8% of Kenyans living below the poverty line |
| Urban Poverty | 33.2% of urban households spend less than KSh 8,000/month |
| Rural Poverty | 42.9% of rural households spend less than KSh 4,300/month |
| Food Insecurity | 16 million Kenyans unable to afford basic food |
| Extreme Poverty | 7.1% (3.6 million) live in extreme poverty |
| Food Poverty in Arid Regions | Turkana: 64.3%, Mandera: 60.4%, Marsabit: 54.4% |
| Female-Headed Households | Poverty rate of 35.3%, compared to 32.6% in male-headed households |
| Impact of Education | 50% of poverty-stricken households are headed by those with only a primary education |