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Waiguru’s resignation was taken well by Kenyans – poll

According to a study by Infotrak Research and Consulting, her resignation – whether genuine or influenced by the government – was a sign that the government was ready to tackle corruption/FILE

According to a study by Infotrak Research and Consulting, her resignation – whether genuine or influenced by the government – was a sign that the government was ready to tackle corruption/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 13 – The resignation of former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru last November seemed to have been taken well by Kenyans.

According to a study by Infotrak Research and Consulting, her resignation – whether genuine or influenced by the government – was a sign that the government was ready to tackle corruption.

This has led to a nine percent drop in the number of people who feel that the country in general is heading in the wrong direction.

However, the number is still high seeing that a majority of Kenyans, at 53 percent, still feel that the country is on the wrong path.

“Apart from corruption, the reduced incidences of terror attacks connected with security in 2013/2014 may have also appeased Kenyans over the last three months,” Angela Ambitho, CEO of Infotrak said.

Off the remaining 44 percent who feel that the country is on the right direction, Central region leads with 60.4 percent, followed by North Eastern at 51.2 percent and Rift Valley at 50.7 percent. According to Ambitho, this is closely tied with political affiliations of the people, seeing that Central and Rift Valley regions comprise of Jubilee’s supporters.

“North Eastern, although an opposition supporting region, has experienced bouts of development projects initiated by the Jubilee government, hence the outcome.”

On the other hand, the CORD stronghold regions such as Nyanza at 68.3 percent and the Coast at 58.5 percent lead in dissatisfaction with the country’s progress.

“There is however opposition followers who either think the government need to be given a chance or feel amiable towards the government due to the goodies that their regions are currently enjoying courtesy of the government.”

The survey also reveals that there is no region in the country where the majority is optimistic that this year will be better than last year. A whopping 43 percent are pessimistic this year will be better than last year, 38 percent are not sure and will determine by the end of the year while only 19 percent think it will be better than 2015.

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“Pessimism that this year will be better than last year is highest in Nyanza, Eastern and the Coast which are incidentally are opposition supporters,” said Ambitho.

“Fifty fifty attitude towards the year exists everywhere else and is interestingly highest in Central where the feeling that the country is moving in the right direction was the highest in the country. The situation was mirrored in North Eastern and Rift Valley where 33 and 36 percent respectively feel pessimistic about the year,” she continued.

As such, Ambitho explained that Kenyans remain fiercely loyal to their political affiliations regardless of how their quality of living is fairing.

Optimism aside, corruption is the biggest concern among Kenyans ranking at 31 percent, slightly down from last year’s 40 percent. It is followed by unemployment at 17 percent and high cost of living at 12 percent.

“To illustrate how terrible people feel about corruption, a majority of those w sampled, at 56 percent, feel that the course of action that should be taken against a corruption leader is immediate prosecution. Still on action, 13 percent feel that they should be made to return the loot they have stolen.”

The survey by Infotrak was conducted between March 6 and 10 this year, sampling 1,800 people.

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