This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
Published on July 10, 2020, a report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) paints a grim picture of the economic meltdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya.
According to the study, which was conducted on May 31 and June 6, a staggering 61% of Kenyans were unable to pay their rent in May. This is a stark reminder of the financial struggles that many Kenyans are facing due to the pandemic.
The report also found that 62.2% of respondents were unable to afford bus fare, with 19.4% opting to use boda boda as an alternative means of transport.
Only 0.7% of Kenyans residing in rental houses had received a rent waiver or relief from landlords, highlighting the lack of support for those struggling to make ends meet.
Speaking on the report, Cabinet Secretary for Treasury Ukur Yattani noted that 41.9% of households had cut on financial spending on commodities they could do without, while 14.8% took a loan from a friend/relative/neighbor.
Notably, 36.7% of households did not take any measure to overcome the financial distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yattani also pointed out that a higher proportion (22.9%) of female-headed households received cash transfers/remittances from relatives or friends compared to 16.9% of male-headed households.
The report was based on a survey conducted through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews, and the findings highlight the need for urgent support to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic.
