Business
Poverty levels in East Africa diminishing rapidly – more join the new global “middle class”
East African economies have had poverty eradication policies but not all have worked.
When he came to power in 2003, Kenya’s out-going President Mwai Kibaki promised to roll out free learning both in elementary and high schools. The introduction of the twin social welfare plans was touted as the most effective social equalization program, opening the doors for children from poor backgrounds to attain basic education, however, a recent report (May 2012) by the World Bank has revealed that Kenya’s poverty levels have oscillated between 44 and 46 percent.
Rwanda on the other hand has achieved remarkable recovery and progress, characterized by reduced poverty numbers, government data shows. In the aftermath of the 1994 genocide, Rwanda was confronted with extreme poverty, with 70 percent of the population living below the poverty line in 1997. The government initiated the Girinka (one cow per poor household) programme adapted from the traditional Rwandan solidarity practice of giving each other a cow as a pact of friendship and support in the event of misfortune or dire need. By 2010, 44.9 percent of Rwandan households were considered poor.
Tanzania has been championing Mkukuta II to accelerate economic growth, reducing poverty, improving the standards of living and social welfare and push for good governance and accountability. Mkukuta II, like its predecessor, is a vehicle for realizing Tanzania’s Development Vision 2025. Government statistics show that 36 out of every 100 Tanzanians were poor in 2001 compared to 34 in 2007. Income poverty (basic needs and food poverty) varied, with the rural areas being worse off.
Uganda has more than halved the percentage of the population below the poverty line from 56 percent in 1992 to 24 percent in 2010, government data shows.
Read more: The East African
