Research shows Kenyans dissatisfied with the Government
‘Most Kenyans are dissatisfied with the government’s performance on key economic issues, including its overall management of the economy (62%). About six in 10 (59%) blame the government’s poor economic management for the increasing cost of living. About six in 10 Kenyans (59%) think the country is going in the wrong direction, although this represents a 15-percentage-point improvement compared to 2021.A majority (61%) of citizens describe the country’s economic condition as “fairly bad” or “very bad.” About half (49%) say their living conditions are bad, while only one-third (33%) consider them good. In comparison to 12 months ago, half (50%) of Kenyans describe the economic condition of the country as “worse” or “much worse,” while the other half say they are better (32%) or unchanged (17%). However, most (57%) expect economic conditions to improve in 12 months.
This was revealed on January 10, 2025, by the University of Nairobi Researchers in Afrobarometer, Prof. Paul Kamau and Laura Barasa. In the Round of surveys, they announced, majority of Kenyans say they or a family member went without basic life necessities at least once during the previous year, including a cash income (90%), medical care (68%), and enough food (58%). About six in 10 respondents (59%) experienced moderate or high levels of poverty during the past year.
Many Kenyans say they had to request assistance from other family members (55%), friends or neighbours (44%), and/or religious, community, or charitable organisations (23%) during the past year in order to make ends meet.
Health, the increasing cost of living, and unemployment rank as the most important problems that Kenyans want their government to address.
The size and performance of any economy is typically measured by its gross domestic product (GDP), the total production of goods and services in the economy over a period of time (World Bank, 2023). In the past four years, the global economy has experienced sluggish economic performance due to disruptions emanating from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and tightened monetary policies in most developed economies (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2021; World Bank, 2023; Onsomu, Munga, & Nyabaro, 2021). For instance, global real GDP growth in 2023 was estimated at 3.1%, down from 3.5% in 2022 (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2024). Similarly, the sub-Saharan Africa region saw a decline in real GDP growth to 3.3% in 2023, compared to 4.0% in 2022.
Kenya’s real GDP growth was 5.6% in 2023, up from 4.9% in 2022. However, like most African countries, Kenya is still struggling in the post-COVID-19 era with skyrocketing inflation and ballooning debts. The Russia-Ukraine war has exacerbated this situation (Kamau & Balongo, 2023; Nechifor et al., 2020). The pandemic hit all sectors, and the Kenyan economy suffered a massive setback after a 5.4% economic growth rate in 2019 (Kamau, 2021). Kenya’s robust growth before the pandemic was driven by increased public sector borrowing, resulting in debt vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated amid tightening global financing conditions (Kamau & Balongo, 2023).
According to the most recent Afrobarometer survey in Kenya, citizens are feeling the pinch of a struggling economy and are blaming the government. A majority of citizens say the country is going in the wrong direction. They assess economic and living conditions as bad and give the government poor marks on its handling of economic issues. Most Kenyans experienced shortages of basic life necessities during the past year, and many say they had to ask for help from others to make ends meet.
Citizens see health, the increasing cost of living, and unemployment as the most important problems requiring government action.
