KENYA: High Birth Rate Dims Long-Term Growth Prospects
Business Daily reported on 1 September that the challenge facing Kenya in providing physical and social infrastructure became clear with the release of the 2009 Census results showing that the country’s population is growing at a pace out of tune with its development goals. Kenya is facing the grim reality of feeding an additional one million mouths every year – translating to a population growth rate of 2.8 per cent, more than the global average of 2.1 per cent and requiring the economy to grow at the rate of more than 12 per cent to remain in step with its development targets. “Population growth is usually a positive indicator if managed well but an annual growth rate of more than two per cent poses immediate threat to government’s efforts to reduce poverty,” said Mr Zama Chi, the UNFPA’s Programme Officer in charge of the African Division. Read: Business Daily