NAIROBI, Kenya – A growing number of Kenyans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, with a significant majority attributing the situation to bad politics and poor governance, according to a new poll by Infotrak Research and Consulting.
The survey, conducted on October 9, revealed that 73 percent of respondents feel the country is on the wrong track—a sharp rise from 50 percent in September.
The primary concern for 64 percent of those polled was poor governance and divisive politics.
High living costs were also a major factor, with 43 percent of Kenyans citing economic hardships as a reason for their pessimism about the country’s trajectory.
Other concerns included unemployment (22 percent), rampant corruption (19 percent), and poor infrastructure (12 percent), highlighting a broad range of issues that Kenyans feel are stifling progress.
Poverty (9 percent), tribalism (8 percent), and extrajudicial killings (7 percent) also featured prominently in the list of grievances.
More specific concerns, though expressed by smaller portions of the population, included the quality of education (5 percent), state abductions, unequal resource distribution, and insecurity (each at 4 percent).
A minority raised concerns about societal values (2 percent), healthcare (1 percent), and even the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (1 percent).
The survey, which covered all eight regions of Kenya, showed that dissatisfaction was widespread across the country, with Nairobi (78 percent), North Eastern (77 percent), and Central and Eastern regions (76 percent each) leading in the belief that the country is on the wrong path.
Rift Valley also reported high levels of dissatisfaction, at 72 percent.
Conducted via Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI), the poll had a margin of error of ±3.1 percent and was designed to be nationally representative.
The findings reflect a growing sense of unease across Kenya as political and economic challenges continue to impact citizens’ daily lives.
This rising discontent contrasts sharply with May 2024, when 63 percent of Kenyans believed the country was headed in the wrong direction, indicating a deepening sense of frustration over the past few months.
Both men and women, at 73 percent each, shared similar views on the state of the nation.
The survey, conducted on October 9, revealed that 73 percent of respondents feel the country is on the wrong track—a sharp rise from 50 percent in September.
The primary concern for 64 percent of those polled was poor governance and divisive politics.
High living costs were also a major factor, with 43 percent of Kenyans citing economic hardships as a reason for their pessimism about the country’s trajectory.
Other concerns included unemployment (22 percent), rampant corruption (19 percent), and poor infrastructure (12 percent), highlighting a broad range of issues that Kenyans feel are stifling progress.
Poverty (9 percent), tribalism (8 percent), and extrajudicial killings (7 percent) also featured prominently in the list of grievances.
More specific concerns, though expressed by smaller portions of the population, included the quality of education (5 percent), state abductions, unequal resource distribution, and insecurity (each at 4 percent).
A minority raised concerns about societal values (2 percent), healthcare (1 percent), and even the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (1 percent).
The survey, which covered all eight regions of Kenya, showed that dissatisfaction was widespread across the country, with Nairobi (78 percent), North Eastern (77 percent), and Central and Eastern regions (76 percent each) leading in the belief that the country is on the wrong path.
Rift Valley also reported high levels of dissatisfaction, at 72 percent.
Conducted via Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI), the poll had a margin of error of ±3.1 percent and was designed to be nationally representative.
The findings reflect a growing sense of unease across Kenya as political and economic challenges continue to impact citizens’ daily lives.
This rising discontent contrasts sharply with May 2024, when 63 percent of Kenyans believed the country was headed in the wrong direction, indicating a deepening sense of frustration over the past few months.
Both men and women, at 73 percent each, shared similar views on the state of the nation.
