This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
On May 8, 2020, the Nation reported on the government's strategy to combat poverty, which has had the opposite effect, making more people poor.
When President Jomo Kenyatta took office 56 years ago, he vowed to eradicate poverty, disease, and ignorance. However, successive governments have struggled to achieve this goal, and the current administration has faced significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the government focuses on fighting the pandemic, its strategy to combat poverty has been criticized for creating more poor people. The measures implemented by the government, such as curfews, lockdowns, and cessation of movement, have disproportionately affected the poor.
Residents of Kariobangi in Nairobi were left homeless after government bulldozers demolished their homes, highlighting the government's approach to poverty alleviation. The author argues that being poor in Kenya is a tragedy, as it means being marginalized and having no voice in the democratic process.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe's comments on Kenyans ordering sausages and beers in reopened restaurants have been criticized for being out of touch with the reality of many Kenyans, who cannot afford such luxuries.
The article concludes that poor Kenyans are often left to fend for themselves, with the government only paying attention to their issues during election periods.
