Public confidence in ministries and counties has dropped, survey shows

By ISAAC MESO

Kenya: A decline in public confidence has been recorded  in key  government institutions including, county governments  whose popularity have plummeted by 15 per cent, a new poll shows.

Also recording a drop in ratings are Cabinet Secretaries (12 per cent) and Senate at 13 per cent, the IPSOS Synovate survey says.

The study revealed that Kenyans are also losing confidence with the Judiciary especially after the recent verbal attacks between the Judiciary and other arms of government.

Public confidence towards this institution has declined by 12 per cent   for the supreme courts and  7 per cent for other courts .

Also public confidence  towards President Uhuru Kenyatta  and his Deputy William Ruto has dropped  significantly  as compared  to last year. This is according to a new study released by Ipsos Synovate poll.

The study  released  yesterday revealed that  the President’s rating together with  his deputy had fallen by 10 per cent  since  November last year when the study was last conducted. “The president and deputy’s public confidence rating has fallen  to  41 and 38 per cent  respectively from 51 and  48 per cent   four months ago” said Tom wolf, Research Analyst,at Ipsos .

Wolf   further noted that partisan loyalty  and political alignment  influenced most of the views  that were being  given by the respondents .

Highest rating

“Taking ratings for the President, for example, 69 per cent of Jubilee supporters give him the highest rating of “alot of confidence”, compared to those aligned to any of CORD’’s parties of whom only 13 per cent accord this praise to him.” He said.

On most serious issues affecting Kenyans today, the study shows that the rate of inflation in the country had declined by 6 per cent to 50 per cent  as compared to four months ago when it was at 56 per cent.

Most Kenyans also feet that unemployment is the second most serious problem facing Kenyans at the moment with concerns over this rising from  14 per cent last year   to 19 per cent. Insecurity comes third followed by corruption in that order,

Wolf said that the study was conducted between the  8th and 15th of February 2014  and its sample size was 2,031 respondents who were Kenyan  adults aged 18 and above  living in Urban and Rural areas.

Wolf also noted that the key ratings  in the private and non-governmental organisations  had dropped as compared to last year raising the question why there was such much negativity towards this  sectors in the last few  months. The study further shows that  most Kenyans still feel  that Jubilee government  has  not  yet recorded any  major  achievements.