TIFA Report: 67% of Kenyans Say Economy Is the Country’s Most Serious Problem

A new national survey by TIFA Research has laid bare what millions of Kenyans experience daily: the economy remains the country’s most urgent and defining crisis.

The findings, released on December 18, 2025, show that an overwhelming majority of citizens view economic hardship as Kenya’s biggest problem, far outweighing concerns about corruption, governance, or national security.

When respondents were asked to identify the single most serious challenge facing the country, 44 per cent cited “unemployment/poverty/bad economy/hunger,” while an additional 23 per cent pointed to “inflation/high prices/high taxes.” Together, economic pressures accounted for a staggering 67 per cent of all responses.

By contrast, only 20 per cent of respondents identified corruption as the country’s top problem, making it a distant second. Other concerns, including poor leadership, access to healthcare, and education, registered in single digits.

“Kenyans overwhelmingly define the country’s problems in economic terms, with unemployment, poverty, and high prices far outweighing political, security, or social concerns,” the TIFA report states.

“For most Kenyans, the national crisis is not political instability or security; it is economic survival.”

The survey shows that economic anxiety continues to overshadow political developments, including evolving public opinion on the Broad-Based Government (BBG) formed through cooperation between President William Ruto and the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

While support for the BBG has risen from 22 per cent in May to 44 per cent, opposition remains high at 48 per cent.

TIFA researchers note a strong link between political attitudes and personal economic experiences. Among BBG opponents, 79 per cent report that their financial situation has worsened since 2022, compared to 55 per cent of those who support the arrangement.

At the core of the economic crisis, the survey identifies employment and income insecurity as persistent challenges for Kenyan households.

“In terms of employment, only about half of Kenyan adults are working either full- or part-time (including those in self-employment: 63%), yet total household income figures show that only about one in ten (9%) are enjoying incomes of more than Ksh 50,000 per month,” the report states.

The findings paint a sobering picture of an economy under strain, where rising prices, limited job opportunities, and stagnant incomes continue to dominate public concern – reinforcing calls for urgent, people-centred economic interventions.

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