This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
Published on September 20, 2019, a study titled "Study on Youth of Kenya" has shed light on the changing attitudes and lifestyles of Kenya's youth.
Conducted by Consumer Insight, the survey sampled 1,634 youths across 16 counties, aged between 13 and 30, over a period of three years - 2017 to 2019.
The study found that most young people feel the ideal age for marriage is 27 to 29, and that the most ideal ceremony is a religious one complete with a reception.
Interestingly, couples from humble backgrounds have a higher opinion of marriage than their rich counterparts, according to Mr Maina Junior, an associate researcher at Consumer Insight.
The research looked into the attitudes and lifestyles of Kenya's youth, focusing on their consumption behavior, perception of culture, fears, priorities, and use of drugs, among others.
The study revealed that the internet has become a major source of love and friendships, with nine percent of the youth having dated online, although the number has been reducing over time.
Men tend to find love on local dating sites, while women prefer continental or international sites, which offer wider options of prospective lovers in terms of race and financial status.
Bhang smoking is becoming a fad among the youth, with bhang being the leading recreational drug consumed by youth across all cadres, followed by miraa and shisha.
When it comes to alcohol and drug abuse, 17 percent of the youth consume alcohol, eight percent take recreational drugs, while three percent smoke cigarettes.
On gambling, five percent of the youth bet as a profession, with these individuals being more likely to be male and of lower socio-economic class.
Only 11 percent of the 65 percent of youth who have access to the internet shop online, with online shopping proving to be a rich man's enclave.
Facebook, Google, and YouTube dominate the market for the Kenyan youth, with few of them reading or watching news items.
When it comes to things the youth fear most, death leads the list at 51 percent, followed by HIV/Aids at 39 percent, and cancer and diabetes at 30 percent.
Other issues that the youth dread include poverty, joblessness, and violence.
Topping the list of the most important things in a youth's life is health at 49 percent, followed by education at 46 percent, and family at 44 percent.
There is a link between good education, good career, and money, with one needing money to live a comfortable life and have good health, both preventive and curative.
Across the three years, family and health have been rising in importance, just as the need for a comfortable life.
Of the total sample, 22 percent said they are married, with a tendency of females being married than males.
The report says 69 percent of females contribute to the family budget, most of them being those of high economic class, but 87 percent of these contribute less than their spouses, even when they have capacity to give more.
On matters health, most youths have adopted healthy snacking behavior, preferring to eat fruits instead of crisps, which the report assumes could be due to fear of illnesses.
Both genders agree that respect for elders is mandatory, believe marriage should be for life, leaving no window for divorce, and they disapprove of female circumcision at 1.6 out of five points each.
