Topic:
Country: Kenya
Delegate Name: Jack Novak
11-22-22
Submitted To: United Nations Development Programme
From: Kenya
Subject: Income Inequality
Delegate Name: Jack Novak
Historically, the global income inequality rate has been increasing since 1820 and is currently sitting at the top 10% earning 52% of all global income. Around 8.5% of the global population is estimated to be living in poverty by the end of 2022. Recent conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine have caused major skyrocketing of the global economy and numerous nations are seeing high inflation numbers. This means the cost of living is going to see an increase as well due to both being connected.
The nation of Kenya has an income inequality of the top 10% earning 23 times what the bottom makes. Despite major economic growth in 2005, as a nation, our income inequality remains all over the place. Weŕe losing $1.1 billion due to tax exemptions. This figure is twice the amount we spent on our health budget for 2015/2016. Poverty is extremely high as 16.1% of the population lives under the international poverty line. There is overall reduced job opportunities, lower wages and high mortality rates due to reduced healthcare access and food insecurity.
Outside aid has been incredibly helpful in reducing death and starvation. Kenya is unable to grow many essential crops like wheat due to low rainfall and access to healthy water is very limited. Climate change is partly responsible for this as numerous droughts occur and there are increasing temperatures being recorded. Our government is only able to do so much and aid from outside sources are necessary for our countries survival.
Outside help is only able to do so much. We the nation of Kenya believe that policies on reducing tax exemptions for the top 10% would be quite effective for reducing income inequality. Numerous foreign governments are full of corruption and aren’t being held accountable. More specific policies should also be implemented for each country. Kenya is actively working on reducing the effects of income inequality. 2015-2019 saw a growth in economy which resulted in reduced poverty. While this benefits us, other nations aren’t affected.
If we as nations working together wish to reduce the global income inequality, we need to all do our part and actively work on reducing our own corruption and poverty. It’s not fair that the rich get to live happily while around millions people will have to starve. These are our friends, our neighbors, our family. Poverty in one country will affect its neighboring countries. Immigrants hoping to find better opportunities will flood your borders. This is a global issue not just something third world countries are struggling with. Join Kenya in our fight to reduce global income inequality.
