Infotrak poll: Majority of Kenyans say country is on wrong track amid economic strain

A new Infotrak poll conducted in August 2025 shows that most Kenyans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, with economic hardship driving widespread dissatisfaction.

According to the survey, 57 per cent of Kenyans think the country is on the wrong track, while only 17 per cent believe it is moving in the right direction. Another 21 per cent were either unsure or felt the country was neither on the right nor wrong track.

The poll highlights demographic differences in perception. Women (59 per cent) and Kenyans aged 46 to 55 (61 per cent) were the most pessimistic. In contrast, young adults aged 18 to 26 were more optimistic, with 25 per cent saying the country is headed in the right direction.

Regional variations also emerged. Central (71 per cent) and Western Kenya (62 per cent) recorded the highest levels of pessimism, followed by Eastern (61 per cent), Nairobi (58 per cent), and Nyanza (53 per cent). North Eastern was the most hopeful region, with 24 per cent believing the country is on the right track.

Among those who said the country is on the wrong path, the high cost of living (66 per cent) was the top concern, followed by unemployment (30 per cent) and poor governance, including weak social protection programmes (15 per cent).

Corruption

Other issues raised included corruption (14 per cent), challenges in the education sector (11 per cent), poverty (8 per cent), extrajudicial killings (7 per cent), poor infrastructure (6 per cent), and insecurity (4 per cent). Less than 5 per cent mentioned tribalism, unequal resource distribution, or arbitrary arrests.

For the 17 per cent who said the country is on the right track, the main reasons were peace (41 per cent), government performance (37 per cent), and perceived economic stabilisation (28 per cent). Others cited competent governors, affordable living costs, improvements in education, infrastructure, and social programmes, though these were mentioned by less than 15 per cent.

The findings reveal a sharp disconnect between national-level stability and household-level economic realities. While some Kenyans credit the government with maintaining peace and order, the majority continue to struggle with rising living costs, unemployment, and underperforming social services.