According to a Gallup public opinion poll released on Thursday, Kenyans see unemployment and corruption as the top issues that the government should address in the next 12 months. The survey, which was conducted in April, indicates that messages of job creation and curbing corruption will most likely resonate with Kenyans as far as electorate decision in the coming general election is concerned. Out of the Kenyans interviewed in the survey, 36% aged 18 and above viewed job creation as the most basic of issues that those seeking electorate seats should address, while 28 % said reducing corruption was the most important issue.

A statement accompanying the Gallup results said that Kenyans are unified on the view, regardless of gender, education or level of urbanization. Gallup also compares Kenyan issues to the United States, finding a similarity in the issues both countries want addressed before the elections. “Kenyans' top two priorities prior to the presidential election are essentially identical to the issues topping Americans' to-do list for the next U.S. president. Such similarities in perceptions underscore the importance of these issues for potential voters, regardless of where they live in the world, “a statement by Gallup says.

[caption id="attachment_15175" align="alignnone" width="456" caption="How Kenyans responded to the opinion poll"][/caption]

These results come barely a week after Infotrak Research and Consulting Company results cited slow economic growth as the most pressing issue affecting Kenyans at the moment. The Infotrak results back-up those by Gallup, indicating that Kenyans are most worried about the high levels of unemployment amongst the youth, insecurity, corruption, and the issue of high cost of living. In a statement accompanying these results, Infotrak says that In Kenya, the realities of youth unemployment are conspicuous and the statistics frightening. Even though 80% of the youth are literate, 67% of them have no jobs. This number increases annually as 750,000 young people join the job market after dropping out of school, being sieved by an education system that can only absorb a few.

Other issues that were raised in smaller percentages in the two surveys were improving the quality of education, agriculture, health care, and electricity supplies, poor leadership, implementation of the new constitution, infrastructure among others.

From these two surveys, growth of the economy stands as the most pressing challenge for the government especially in this election period.