A new national survey has laid bare the growing frustration among Kenyans, with most citizens blaming the high cost of living as the biggest failure of President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.
TIFA Research, which conducted the survey between May 2 and May 6, 2025, found that 18% of respondents singled out the government’s inability to reduce living expenses as its most significant shortcoming. This issue topped a list of concerns, surpassing criticisms of poor leadership (11%), inadequate health services (8%), and corruption or human rights violations (7%).
The findings come from the TIFA National Public Issues Survey: State of the Nation, Kenya Kwanza Government Performance, 2027 Election Issues, and Foreign Relations, which engaged 2,024 Kenyans across nine regions. The results reveal a widespread sense of economic despair.
A staggering 75% of those interviewed said the country is heading in the wrong direction. Among them, 45% blamed the surging cost of living. Only 14% believe Kenya is on the right track.
TIFA’s data also shows that 75% of Kenyans feel their personal or family financial situations have worsened since the 2022 general election. In sharp contrast, only 10% reported any improvement. The cost of living emerged as the leading cause of this downturn, far outweighing concerns like joblessness or human rights issues.
While 14% of respondents acknowledged the government’s efforts in infrastructure development, nearly half—46%—could not name a single tangible achievement by the Ruto-led administration. Only 7% of Kenyans failed to identify any government failure, underscoring how deeply economic frustration has taken root.
The survey also sheds light on waning support for the Broad-Based Government (BBG)—a political alliance between President Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Only 22% of respondents support the BBG, while 54% voiced outright opposition.
“Still, given the fact that together, these two leaders obtained about 99% of the 2022 presidential vote, it is worth summarizing the factors that most likely account for their loss of support, at least in terms of approval of their BBG,” the TIFA report stated.
Economic hardships appear to lie at the heart of this dissatisfaction. A massive 85% of Kenyans who oppose the BBG say their financial situations have worsened since the last election. Even among BBG supporters, over half (52%) reported similar struggles. Many supporters, despite aligning with the coalition, still cited the rising cost of living as a major reason for losing faith in the country’s direction.
Corruption and poor leadership also featured prominently, with 42% and 30% of respondents respectively identifying them as the key barriers to national progress. Still, the high cost of living remains the central concern, acting as a political flashpoint ahead of the 2027 general election.
TIFA’s findings also reflect regional nuances in economic sentiment. While the majority in all regions reported worsening conditions, slightly fewer residents in Central Rift (61%) and Northern Kenya (63%) expressed economic pessimism compared to the national average.
Researchers conducted the survey through telephonic interviews in Kiswahili and English. They selected participants from contacts gathered during earlier face-to-face, household-based interviews. The survey carries a margin of error of ±2.17%.
