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Kenyans are very optimistic, says poll

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 26 – On the eve of the promulgation of Kenya’s new Constitution, Kenyans’ expectations with regard to both governance and the economy were high, a new poll.

According to a study conducted by Synovate Research company, eight in every ten Kenyans think that the government is committed to implementing the new Constitution.

“This is in spite of rising food prices, specifically the 12 percent rise of the price of bread and the 25 percent increase of the price of milk in the past two months,” said the study.

Download the poll summary.

Findings of the study released on Thursday indicate that 77 percent of those polled were optimistic that the new Constitution would deliver better economic conditions in the next twelve months.

Through the survey where 1,097 adult Kenyans were interviewed across the country between August 22 and 24 Synovate, found: “56 percent are prepared to pay higher taxes if the cost of government under the new Constitution is higher.”

“Delivering a new Constitution and economic development are among the government’s achievements of which Kenyans are most proud,” said the study.

Better education comes in third with only eight percent of Kenyans indicating that the government had done nothing to be proud of.

“As the country awaits implementation of the new Constitution, Prime Minister Raila Odinga is seen as the most vital public figure by 48 percent of Kenyans with President Mwai Kibaki being considered as such by just 14 percent,” reveals the study.

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It reasons: “Perhaps this reflects a combination of Mr Odinga’s personal history, as both a victim of previous regimes under the old Constitution, and a leading figure in guiding the new Constitution into existence.”

An overwhelming 77 percent of Kenyans are optimistic that the new law will deliver better economic conditions in the next 12 months.

“Similar level of optimism was last recorded in April 2003, just after the NARC government came to power,” concludes the research firm’s Managing Director, George Waititu.

The study winds up by observing that that current optimism strikes a positive note in many ways, including investor confidence and the deep sense of patriotism and democracy especially after emerging from self destruction during the post election violence, places the country on a global map as a case study.

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