After the end of the lockdown and curfew, Kenyans have resumed spending a good part of their earnings to go out and have fun. We are talking about the rich and the middle class, or those who, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), can afford to spend more than 46,000 shillings per month (about 400 euros). Then there are the rich, those who can afford to spend more than 2,000 euros per month and who make up more than 3.5% of households in Nairobi and surrounding areas, while in the rest of Kenya the percentage is halved. This category accounts for 12% of the nation's total expenditures. The middle class, on the other hand, comes in at about 25% of the population.
What did they spend their money on? Those who are lucky enough to own a car, have resumed to have as first item the costs of fuel and maintenance of the same, while for others one of the first items, incredibly is ... pizza.
In fact, official KNBS data shows that it's restaurants and fast food outlets that have benefited from the country's reopening, and the Italian specialty, along with hamburgers, fried chicken with fries and coffee, and before hot dogs, nachos and candy, is the food that has taken the biggest hit.
KNBS reports that the increase in the affluent class spending basket was primarily driven by four clusters: Transportation; food and non-alcoholic beverages; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; and apparel and footwear, which increased by 10.43, 8.86, 5.67 and 5.47 percent, respectively.
Fast food deliveries also doubled during this period, with users willing to spend more if they see value for money and special offers.
"Everyone is back on the move and malls are the most popular places to go," commented KAHC Hotelier Association CEO Sam Ikwaye in the media, "often we don't get the luxury of fine dining establishments. Spending on fast food has increased at all levels and for every social class."
Other items that take a large chunk of the wealthy's income, besides housing, include international flights and restoring domestic workers.
With the Christmas vacations, it is hoped that hotels, entertainment venues, holiday facilities and tourism-related activities will also be added to the data to be delivered to the statistics.