Poll: Kenyans concerned over food, fuel prices

Synovate lead researcher Tom Wolf during a news conference to release a poll that shows 33pc of Kenyans are concerned over the rising food and fuel prices April 15,2011. HEZON NJOROGE

Most Kenyans cite the rising food and fuel prices as their biggest problem, a new opinion poll shows.

The Synovate poll released Friday shows that 33 percent cite the price of food, the cost of fuel and poverty as their main concern.

Of those polled, 26 percent said the issue of food, hunger and famine remained the most critical, 19pc cited unemployment, while 6pc said their biggest grouse was politics and the same number cited corruption and bribery.

On Thursday, the Energy Regulatory Commission, in their monthly review, announced new fuel prices that pushed a litre of petrol to an all time high of Sh111, while diesel will retail at Sh107 and kerosene at Sh90.

Super petrol will retail at a maximum of Sh111.17 in Nairobi and Sh107.92 in Mombasa, up from Sh102.44 and Sh99.19 respectively.

In Kisumu, a litre of Super petrol has gone up to Sh113.42, while it is selling for Sh113.36 in Eldoret and Sh112.25 in Nakuru.

The increased cost of fuel is most likely to raise Kenyans' cost of living due to a spiral effect that will see food prices and commuter fare go up.

In the political sphere, Prime Minister Raila Odinga remains the most preferred presidential candidate (38pc) followed by Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta at 18pc.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka (13pc), Eldoret North MP William Ruto (8pc) and Gichugu MP Martha Karua (6pc) are the other preferred candidates in that order.