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The Kenyan Middle-Class Projects that are setting the trends in Societies
Author Reference
Lango, B., (2022). The Kenyan Middle-Class Projects that are Setting the Trends in Societies and Across
Villages. [online] Facebook.com
The African Development Bank (ADB) categorizes the Kenyan middle-income earners as those getting an
average annual income of $3900 or more. This group, according to ADB, is commonly referred to as the
middle-class due to their middle-income status which is neither low nor high, and also accounts for
44.9% of the Kenyan population. The World Bank on the other hand has ranked Kenya as a lower
middle-income country owing to the fact that Kenya’s per capita GDP crossed the World Bank threshold.
The latest trend however places the middle-class as Kenyans with vast knowledge of their environment
and particularly interested in certain projects to maintain their frame. These are considered as
individuals with a particular interest in a family, a permanent and stable job, a housing plan, a vehicle
plan, a couple of goals, and any project related to ascertaining their acceptance in their societal
environment. This paper, therefore, looks at the different projects considered by the middle-class in the
current Kenyan environment.
Family and the 2 to 3 Kids Project
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in its 2021 economic survey places the number of
households in Kenya at 12.6 million. Of this figure, the number of middle-class dwellers is not listed but
at least the numbers showed that the majority at 7.4 million lived in urban areas while the remaining 5.2
million dwelled in rural areas. Out of an approximated population of 50 million persons in Kenya, the
household indicators depict a country that still values family settings. And this is given by the average of
4.4 persons which has been given as the mean size of the Kenyan households. An average Kenyan
woman or man considers starting a family with an average of 2 to 3 children. The middle class, study
reveal is more interested in small families with 2 to 3 children. This class will settle down with intention
of getting at least 2 children with the third child-targeted to balance the gender equality when the first 2
children are of the same gender. To this class, 4 children would mean that the family reached this
number while trying to meet gender parity. Recent studies indicate that the family and the 2 to 3 kids’
project has taken root in Kenya and the majority of the urban dwellers have embraced this life project.
Studies show that in the rural villages the family project is fully embraced and the 2 to 3 kids’ project is
not keenly followed but slowly taking root. This, therefore, defines the middle-class as a special group
that also values a reliable income status through permanent employment.
A Reliable Job Project
Various studies opine that the middle class is grounded in a job that is well paying and reliable to
maintain the family lifestyle. This class of Kenyans defines a reliable job as one that includes a good
paycheck, has reasonable working hours that allow for family time, a safe classy environment if possible
with an enclosed office, and finally, social insurance that will protect the family. This project according
to the middle class should be completed and in working operation before the family and the 2 to 3 kids’
project is undertaken. The simple reason is, that this is the sustaining jumbo of all the other entire
projects to be initiated. Currently, in Kenya, the jobs targeted by middle-class yawners are in the
government sector while few are in the private sector. The government jobs considered to assure ascent
to this class are the uniform officer (Kenya police and army); member of the county assembly; registered
government nurse; government administrative officer; government assigned intern doctors and
clinicians; government assigned bloggers; and many more. In the private sector, the job will have any
defined title but to the middle class so long as the level of permanency and benefits that includes social
insurance is defined.
The Small House Project
After the above two projects have been achieved, the small house project is the next viable project for
the middle class. This is usually to mark territory and also achieve the egocentric requirement of their
society of having made it in life in sub-Saharan Africa. At this stage, the middle-class dwellers want to
own a home as the expenses will soon be piling up. The family project and the 2 to 3 kids are
progressing well and the kids will soon need their own space meaning bigger space requirements, hence
the need for personal space in the name of a small house. Why this house is a small house is to ensure it
meets the opulence levels that cannot be met with a bigger house. The middle class will therefore
comfortably do a 3-bedroom house that is considered classy as it entails all the amenities of the upper-
class. “mimi niko na kwangu” translated to mean “me I have my place” is a common term within the
circles of the middle-class and especially where two or more of their like are gathered. This synopsis
describes the value that comes with the house. At this stage
The Small Car, Small Consumption Project
This is the project that sums it all for middle-class families given the rising cost of livings in most
countries. With the cost of fuel rising every day, this class is particularly becoming interested in low fuel
consumption fuel. This thereby relegates middle-class families to cars with cubic capacities (CC) of less
than 2000. These in Kenya, for example, are commonly referred to as “KADUDUs” because of their
limited capacities in terms of height, passenger carry, and load capacity. The Kenyan National Bureau of
Statistics (KNBS) 2019 recorded the total number of cars in Kenya at the time of the census to stand at 3,
608, 110. This figure was also noted as increasing by 5% every year as new cars are brought into the
countries with the slim figure of this being locally manufactured. The figures from KNBS also indicate
that the highest import cars are those of 2000cc and below meaning, the target market of middle-class
families is being reached. To this class, the car is a necessity for recognition and basically a good thing. A
Buganda says that “A Youngman’s achievements are not measured by the number of small cars he buys,
but how long his stands”.
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About the Author:
Dr. Bernard Lango, PhD
A Project Management Professional and A Lecturer at the JKUAT Kenyan University
Does consulting in Public Safety Management and Research
A registered Environment Auditor with NEMA Kenya, Reg. No.9406
A Lead Consultant on Social Research and Capacity Development at AEDI-CRD.org
A Mentor and Trainer at Dr. Bernard Lango Research School
E-mail the author: benard.lango@gmail.com
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