Editor's Review

TIFA reported that unemployment and poverty were Kenya's most serious problem. 

An opinion poll released by TIFA on Wednesday, September 9, revealed that 66 per cent of Kenyans believe their economic situation has worsened after the 2022 elections.

According to TIFA, only 12 per cent of Kenyans feel like the economy has improved since President William Ruto took office, while 23 per cent believe their economic situation has remained the same.

"Two-thirds of Kenyans still feel worse off than before the 2022 election, while the declining share reporting improvement since May (though slightly higher than in 2025) suggests that whatever economic recovery may be underway is yet to be broadly felt at household level," TIFA wrote.

The pollster stated that the areas with the most respondents who confirmed a negative economic situation since 2022 were highest in Mount Kenya (79%) and Western Kenya (74%).

TIFA stated that based on the feedback from Kenyans, politicians allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration would have a difficult time when seeking re-election if things remain unchanged.

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A snippet from the TIFA poll on Kenyans’ Economic Conditions, Kenya’s Direction, Several Policy Issues, and Institutional Trust.

"With some two-thirds of Kenyans indicating a worsening of their economic situation, unless this changes over the next year, it could be challenging for all politicians seeking re-election, especially those identified with the incumbent government," the report read in part.

Additionally, 65 per cent of Kenyans consider the country's economic situation in the country to be 'very bad', against two per cent who believe that it is doing 'very good'.

TIFA reported that unemployment and poverty were Kenya's most serious problems. 

"In terms of employment, just over half of Kenyan adults are working either full- or part-time (including those in self-employment: 58%), a slight decline from that proportion in TIFA's last (November, 2025) survey (63%).

"Yet total household income figures show that only about one-in-ten (11%) are enjoying incomes of more than Ksh50,000/- per month, hardly any change from the figures obtained in TIFA’s two previous surveys," the poll revealed.

Other top five serious problems facing the country are inflation/high taxes/ high prices. Corruption, poor leadership and lack of access to healthcare.