Although the government has insisted that the country’s economy has shown considerable resilience over the last two years, the fight against poverty in Kenya remains a daunting challenge. It requires concerted efforts from both levels of government.
According to the World Bank, the agricultural sector experienced a stronger-than-expected rebound after two years of drought. The onset of rains led to improved crop yields and livestock health, which supported the resumption of a downward trajectory for poverty rates. The poverty rate (measured by the $2.15 international poverty threshold) is projected to have declined from 35.8 percent in 2022 to 35.1 percent in 2023.
At present, one third of Africa’s population, approximately 450 million people, are struggling daily to provide life’s basics to their families. In 1990, Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 15 percent of the world’s extremely poor, but by 2022, that figure had soared to 60 percent.
In Kenya, for instance, both the national and devolved governments must devise mechanisms for collectively tackling this issue, devoid of blame games. There must be joint initiatives on how to address this deep-seated poverty, particularly in rural areas.
With Sino-Kenya relations now formalized into a strategic partnership aimed at spurring development and economic growth to create more job opportunities for youth—thus helping to curb poverty—Kenya can learn valuable lessons from China’s poverty reduction strategies.
While Kenya has often adopted development strategies from its former colonizers, China has carved its own unique path. This approach has enabled China to successfully reduce poverty.
China’s poverty alleviation efforts have focused on increasing rural household incomes by promoting non-agricultural jobs, enhancing agricultural productivity, and investing in rural infrastructure.
In combating poverty, the Communist Party of China (CPC) was deliberate and intentional, using local branches to implement poverty alleviation programs. This approach could be instructive for Kenya, where political parties often present flowery manifestos during campaigns but fail to implement them once elected.
A 2022 World Bank report recognized that China’s success was based on two pillars: broad-based economic transformation, which opened new economic opportunities and raised average incomes, and targeted support to alleviate persistent poverty, initially in geographically disadvantaged areas and later at the household level.
The United Nations reports that over 800 million people worldwide live in poverty, acknowledging China’s significant achievement of lifting nearly the same number out of poverty in the past 40 years. To achieve a poverty-free world by 2030, more than 100 million people must be lifted out of poverty each year, particularly in regions like South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. These regions can learn from China’s success in eradicating poverty in less than four decades.
According to a recent report from the Chinese government, the number of people living in poverty dropped from 98 million in 2012 to 16 million in 2018. This achievement is largely attributed to accelerated infrastructure development in poverty-stricken rural areas, including the construction or renovation of 208,000 kilometers of roads and modernization of internet networks.
China also focused on providing and renovating housing for the poor. One successful initiative allowed local governments to take affordable loans to purchase houses from private developers, which were then sold to citizens under favorable terms. This model could serve as a useful reference for Kenya’s affordable housing program, which has faced legal challenges.
China remains a global leader in poverty reduction and health outcomes. Countries facing high poverty rates, such as Mozambique, South Sudan, Malawi, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Bangladesh, and India, should consider China’s achievements and strengthen multilateral cooperation with China, particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to address poverty.
Kenya, for example, still struggles with deep-rooted poverty. Poverty in Africa contributes to hunger, disease, and poor living conditions, often linked to the legacy of colonialism. Since gaining independence, African countries have relied heavily on foreign aid, particularly from the West. This dependency has fostered a culture of paternalism, with Western donors often dictating the terms of governance and development.
One of China’s strategies to combat poverty has been ensuring access to quality education. Today, many young Chinese strive to pursue advanced degrees, supported by affordable government loans and scholarships. In contrast, access to high school education remains a challenge in some parts of Kenya, which both the national and county governments should address through collaboration.
Kenya should also study China’s market reforms, which provided small farmers with access to essential resources such as irrigation, seeds, fertilizer, and market facilities. China also focused on building a robust agricultural sector, supported by research, training, and modern extension services. In Kenya, however, farmers still rely on traditional techniques and rain-fed agriculture. This issue can only be addressed through a joint effort between national and county governments. It is not something that one party can resolve on its own.
The writer is a Journalist and Communication consultant
