The assumption therefore is that most of the travel

Majority of Kenyans feel that they will spend more during 2012 Christmas holiday celebrations as most people close offices and their businesses for pleasant festivities starting next week, a newly published survey said on Thursday.

According to a nationwide survey conducted by Ipsos Synovate between Dec. 6 and Dec. 11, which polled 1,625 respondents, 66 percent of Kenyans stated that they will spend more, 24 percent felt that they will spend less, 5 percent the same as 2011 and only 5 percent were not sure about their spending.

“As Kenyans gear up for their Christmas shopping, beneficiaries of the planned expenditure are gift shops, outlets that retail airtime, clothing and shoes. The focus on these items could be as a result of the numerous Christmas offers from related retail outlets,” Margaret Ireri, MD Ipsos Synovate said in Nairobi.

The level of spending could be explained by findings from a previous study which was released in November on the Cost of Living, which indicated that only 39 percent of Kenyans mention high cost of living as a pressing issue.

This is despite the inflation has declined significantly from 19.72 percent in November 2011 to 3.25 percent in November this year.

The cost of food items in the East African nation has dropped significantly due to good harvests, decline in inflationary pressure and drop in fuel fuels.

This would be perhaps one of the most memorable Christmas periods in recent times for Kenyans, who will not have to grapple with increased cost of basic items as they seek to make merriment associated with the holiday.

In the current survey, Kenyans indicated will spend on airtime, clothes, foodstuff and beverages. Kenyans in the rural areas indicated that they will spend more (67%) compared to 64 percent of those in the urban areas.

Analyzed by age; 25-34 years and 35-44 years are likely to post higher spending at 72 percent and 68 percent respectively.

About 64 percent of the younger age group of 18 to 24 years will also spend more this Christmas; only 60 percent of those aged 45+ years feel that they will spend more.

Ireri said Kenyans aged between 25 and 44 years comprise the workforce of the nation and therefore have disposable income.

“They also have responsibilities of taking care of their spouses, children, parents and relatives and because they are also actively social, they will be looking forward to being generous towards their friends. It is therefore not surprising that they feel they will spend more,” she said.

According to the survey, there will be more shopping, less travel and church on Christmas day. It said gift shops, outlets that retail airtime will experience increase in sales.

Other items whose prices have gone down, noted KNBS while releasing inflation rate data recently, include housing, water, electricity and gas.

However, the survey says off the 39 percent who intend to travel, 96 percent will be travelling locally i.e. across towns within Kenya and only 4 percent likely to opt for out of the country.

According to the survey, 84 percent of the domestic travelers stated that they will be accommodated by relatives. The assumption therefore is that most of the travel will be upcountry.

“Some 6 percent will travel out of town or their usual location but still go back home at the end of the day while hotels and cottages will provide accommodation to only 11 percent of the travelers. Parents and children will be the biggest beneficiaries of gifts during this year’s festivities,” the study shows.

According to the survey, about 54 percent of the respondents stated that they will give gifts to their parents, 53 percent to their children and 43 percent to their spouses.

The list of gifts is dominated by shoes and clothes, and not surprisingly foodstuff and drinks.

“The presentation of gold, frankincense and myrrh by the three wise men became traditional symbols to remember those early Christmas gifts to Jesus. The Three Kings of Orient also became a symbol of kindness known by different names in different cultures and nations,” Ireri said.

She said going by the recent Ipsos Synovate poll, if the three wise men were living in Kenya today, they would have presented shoes, clothes and foodstuff to Jesus as gifts.