Kenyans perceive the United States as the biggest threat to the country’s economic development, followed by China.
This is according to a National Public Issues Survey released on May 28, 2025, by Trends and Insights Africa (TIFA) that was conducted between May 2, 2025, and May 6, 2025.
TIFA has, however, noted that the US still holds its top position as a country outside of Eastern Africa that is most important for Kenya’s economic and political development.
“Still, the US’s similar top position in the ‘negative’ list (countries considered ‘the biggest threat to Kenya’s economic and political development’, with China in second place in both lists) rather dilutes whatever satisfaction US officials might take from the former result,” TIFA said.
Furthermore, all African countries combined account for one-tenth of all responses (10%), while 43% of Kenyans were unable to name a country in this category.
Other findings
Similarly, the survey revealed that Kenyans across the political divide consider corruption the most significant factor hindering the country’s development.
“ For all Kenyans as well as those expressing support for or opposition to the Broad-Based Government (BBG), corruption and poor leadership rank the highest,” the survey read.
“This is so even if fewer who are pro-BBG mention either of these two factors (33% vs. 48% for corruption and 25% vs. 31% for poor leadership).”
Most pro-BBG respondents mention tribalism or ethnic tensions more often than those who are anti-BBG.
“And the same applies to those who say they are ‘not sure’ what is the main cause of Kenya’s lack of greater development (10% vs. 4% for the former factor and 7% vs. 2% for the latter),” the survey reads.
Additionally, the survey revealed that most Kenyans are expressing deep concern over the country’s trajectory, with a majority feeling that the nation is steadily moving in the wrong direction, attributed to the rising economic pressure, the high cost of living, and widespread dissatisfaction with leadership.
“Asked about the country’s current direction, a sizeable majority of Kenyans believe that it is ‘wrong’, five times more than the fewer than one-fifth of a contrary (positive) view. This leaves the remainder either with no clear opinion about this reality or who are unwilling to express one,” the survey read.
The data reveals that 75 per cent of respondents believe Kenya is heading in the wrong direction, a figure that dwarfs the 14 per cent who said the country is on the right track.
A further 11 per cent either had no opinion or declined to express one.
