Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business, from 1–190 by the World Bank. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm.
The rankings are determined by sorting the aggregate scores on 10 topics, each consisting of several indicators, giving equal weight to each topic. The rankings for all economies are benchmarked to May 2018.
The latest report from the World Bank ranked Kenya at position 61 in ease of doing business.
Kenyan leaders led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto took to social media to applause the move.
I am pleased that #Kenya has remarkably improved in the Ease of Doing Business, jumping from position 80 last year to position 61 this year. We are reaping the benefits of paying attention to various key reforms that have made our country more attractive for investment #DoingBiz pic.twitter.com/WGe9GJj6Yy
— Uhuru Kenyatta (@UKenyatta) November 1, 2018
An official communication from the statehouse on the same said, “One of the reforms that has enabled our rise in the ease of doing business is the introduction of strict regulations within the private sector that protect the investments of SME’s.”
One of the reforms that has enabled our rise in the ease of doing business is the introduction of strict regulations within the private sector that protect the investments of SME’s #DoingBiz | @WilliamsRuto #TwasongaMbele pic.twitter.com/pZaNYRBFar
— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) November 1, 2018
However, Kenyans seem to have read malice into the report, with some arguing that the report was derived from a poll by CNN viewers who were asked by business reporter Richard Quest on which African country that is capable of leading Africa’s economy for next 20 years.
According to Kenyans on twitter who have read malice in World banks’s report, CNN viewers voted for Kenya at 38% as the first one followed by Nigeria at 37%.
Someone around the President decided to take the CNN poll and use it as facts from the World Bank. pic.twitter.com/A5aafGQZ2N
— Oliver Mathenge (@OliverMathenge) November 1, 2018
Kenyan govt uses @CNN poll & claim it’s from World Bank saying Kenya economy will lead Africa in the next 20years
The final poll actually places Nigeria ahead @ 43% followed by Kenya @ 41%
And the posts are still up @DavidNdii @CofekRebranded @richardquest @questCNN @UKenyatta pic.twitter.com/x1rwNhpczG
— Phelix G-Cord (@PhelixOchola) November 1, 2018
It was a trivia question on CNN lol hehehe pic.twitter.com/BRwpDUMe3T
— georges braque (@BraqueGeorges) November 1, 2018
However, Daily Active Kenya remains nonjudgmental following the allegations Kenyans are making on the report. Did the report base on facts or propaganda as being claimed on social media?