East Africa's poor reach 53m despite anti-poverty drive. Title of a small piece in Business Daily today (pg 14). If you weren't able to get the paper you can read the piece below.
The number of East Africans living below the poverty line has increased from 44 million to 53 million people, according to a new report. The report dubbed 'State of East Africa 2012' indicates that the number of people living below the poverty line has increased despite efforts by member states to challenge the vice as a bloc.
Poverty continues to grow in the region even as member states apart from Burundi and Kenya report a reduction in the share of people living below the poverty line. Amb Richard Sezibera said: "Even as leaders and institutions, in both the corporate and political arena, embrace good governance and paying close attention to the dictates of sustainable development, poverty continues to persist"Some people think things are all good (well no really)-that Kenya is on track to reduce poverty. But those Easter conversation with family esp those upcountry tell such a different story. Something my folks told me that "things just aren't getting better these days-look at all the unrest in Kenya, strikes & all. Don't close your eyes, the last three years have been bad-costs rising too fast." Off course my folks represent what everyone is thinking in this country. Poverty is on the rise in East Africa still remains the title.
“We are the middle children of history man, no purpose or place. We have no great war, no great depression. Our great war is a spiritual war, our great depression is our lives!" – Tyler Durden