Infotrak Voice of the People Poll – September 2025
Voice of the People Poll – August 2025
A national opinion poll on the direction of the country, the public's priority issues of concern, and the cost of living, based on Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI) with 2,400 adult Kenyans across all 47 counties, conducted 13th–14th August 2025.
Methodology
Who Sponsored the Poll
The poll was sponsored and financed by Infotrak Research & Consulting Limited.
Fieldwork Dates
Interviews were conducted between 13th–14th August, 2025.
Data Collection Method
Quantitative interviews were conducted through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI).
Survey Sample
The survey sample achieved was 2,400, representing the universe of adult Kenyans aged 18 years and above. The sampling frame was designed using Population Proportionate to Size (PPS) guided by the 2019 Census.
The survey covered all 47 counties and 8 regions of Kenya, with the sample distribution proportionately allocated across the regions to ensure national representativeness.
Margin of Error & Response Rate
The margin of error was ±2% at a 95% degree of confidence.
The response rate achieved was 96%.
Weighting & Data Analysis
Where the achieved interviews differed slightly from the intended sampled proportions per demographic group, the dataset was weighted to correct for over or under sampling.
Data was processed and analyzed using SPSS 27 statistical software due to its high accuracy and reliability.
| Region | Sample Achieved (n) | Regional Proportion | Adult Population (M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coast | 216 | 9% | 2.3 |
| North Eastern | 95 | 4% | 1.0 |
| Eastern | 361 | 15% | 3.9 |
| Central | 321 | 13% | 3.4 |
| Rift Valley | 614 | 26% | 6.6 |
| Western | 231 | 10% | 2.5 |
| Nyanza | 295 | 12% | 3.2 |
| Nairobi | 267 | 11% | 2.9 |
| Total | 2400 | 100% | 25.7 |
Summary of the Findings
1. Direction the Country is Heading
A clear majority (57%) of Kenyans feel the country is headed in the Wrong Direction.
Public sentiment is fundamentally driven by economic distress (cost of living and unemployment), overshadowing perceived successes in peace or government efforts.
The government must prioritize delivering immediate, tangible economic relief to reverse the dominant mood of pessimism and rebuild public trust.
2. Key Issues of Concern
The public's top five priority concerns are all rooted in economic hardship and social welfare (Cost of Living, Unemployment, SHIF/SHA, Corruption, Education Costs).
The national dialogue is not about politics, but about household survival and the perceived failure of social safety nets (healthcare, education) and job creation.
Policy efforts must be seen to aggressively tackle these core livelihood issues; failure to stabilize prices and clarify SHIF implementation will continue to fuel public anxiety.
3. The Cost of Living
The high cost of living is a near-universal and worsening reality, with 79% of Kenyans feeling it is higher than a year ago and 70% rating it as "High" or "Very High."
The economic crisis is profound, affecting the vast majority of households, and is felt most acutely by older demographics (55+).
Incremental changes will not suffice; urgent, impactful measures are needed to stabilize the prices of basic goods and protect vulnerable segments of the population.
4. Reasons Behind the High Cost of Living
Taxes are the dominant cause of the high cost of living, cited by 40% of the public, significantly outweighing global factors (19%).
The public believes the economic crisis is domestically induced by the government's fiscal policies (high taxes) and poor governance (corruption).
The administration is under pressure to either revise its taxation strategy or dramatically improve the return on taxes through exceptional public service delivery.
Direction of the Country
Overall, which direction do you think the Country is headed? (n = 2,400)
National direction, all respondents
| Period | Right Direction | Wrong Direction | Neither Right nor Wrong | Don't Know/Refused |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept-23 | 30% | 53% | 13% | 3% |
| May-24 | 19% | 63% | 16% | 2% |
| Sept-24 | 19% | 50% | 29% | 2% |
| Oct-24 | 11% | 73% | 15% | 1% |
| Aug-25 | 17% | 57% | 21% | 5% |
Direction of the Country — Breakdowns
By region, gender, and age
| Region | Right Direction | Wrong Direction | Neither Right nor Wrong | Don't Know/Refused |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Eastern | 24% | 48% | 20% | 7% |
| Rift Valley | 21% | 50% | 24% | 5% |
| Coast | 21% | 52% | 23% | 5% |
| Eastern | 19% | 61% | 16% | 5% |
| Nyanza | 16% | 53% | 22% | 10% |
| Western | 15% | 62% | 19% | 4% |
| Nairobi | 13% | 58% | 25% | 4% |
| Central | 10% | 71% | 17% | 2% |
| Total | 17% | 57% | 21% | 5% |
| Group | Right Direction | Wrong Direction | Neither Right nor Wrong | Don't Know/Refused |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 19% | 54% | 22% | 4% |
| Female | 15% | 59% | 20% | 6% |
| 18-26 years | 25% | 51% | 19% | 5% |
| 27-35 years | 17% | 55% | 21% | 7% |
| 36-45 years | 16% | 59% | 21% | 4% |
| 46-55 years | 13% | 61% | 21% | 4% |
| Over 55 years | 16% | 58% | 21% | 6% |
| Total | 17% | 57% | 21% | 5% |
Reasons Why Kenyans Feel the Country is Headed in the Right Direction
You have mentioned that the country is headed in the right direction, why do you say this? (n = 404)
Reasons for Right Direction — Breakdowns
By region, gender, and age (n = 404)
| Reason | Coast | North Eastern | Eastern | Central | Rift Valley | Western | Nyanza | Nairobi | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| There is peace in the country | 38% | 55% | 36% | 49% | 39% | 34% | 51% | 38% | 41% |
| The government is doing well | 28% | 46% | 36% | 38% | 36% | 53% | 33% | 42% | 37% |
| The economy is stabilizing | 25% | 41% | 33% | 22% | 26% | 22% | 27% | 35% | 28% |
| My governor is working well | 17% | – | 9% | 12% | 16% | 18% | 13% | 5% | 13% |
| The cost of living is affordable | 5% | 7% | 9% | 6% | 8% | – | 6% | – | 6% |
| Establishment of SHIF and improvements in healthcare services | 9% | – | 10% | 4% | 4% | 10% | 2% | 8% | 6% |
| Education has improved | 14% | – | 8% | 3% | 3% | 6% | – | 6% | 5% |
| The country has good infrastructure | 7% | – | 7% | 4% | 2% | 11% | 7% | 8% | 5% |
| Devolution has made a difference | 3% | – | 4% | 3% | 5% | 3% | 2% | 8% | 4% |
| The cooperation between ODM and UDA (Broad Based Government) | – | 5% | 1% | 4% | 2% | – | – | – | 1% |
| My candidate is in power | 3% | 4% | 1% | – | 1% | 3% | 2% | – | 1% |
| Formation of the new cabinet | – | – | 2% | – | – | 5% | – | 3% | 1% |
| The county assembly (MCAs) are working well | 4% | – | – | – | 1% | 3% | – | – | 1% |
| The country is actively fighting corruption | – | – | 3% | – | – | – | – | – | 1% |
| Reason | Male | Female | 18-26 | 27-35 | 36-45 | 46-55 | Over 55 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| There is peace in the country | 40% | 42% | 40% | 41% | 44% | 33% | 40% | 41% |
| The government is doing well | 40% | 34% | 42% | 38% | 32% | 37% | 49% | 37% |
| The economy is stabilizing | 30% | 26% | 32% | 28% | 29% | 31% | 10% | 28% |
| My governor is working well | 11% | 15% | 13% | 14% | 13% | 14% | 3% | 13% |
| The cost of living is affordable | 6% | 6% | 8% | 4% | 5% | 15% | 3% | 6% |
| Establishment of SHIF and improvements in healthcare services | 3% | 9% | 1% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 6% |
| Education has improved | 3% | 8% | 3% | 6% | 4% | 5% | 8% | 5% |
| The country has good infrastructure | 5% | 5% | 3% | 7% | 3% | 7% | 8% | 5% |
| Devolution has made a difference | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 8% | 4% |
| The cooperation between ODM and UDA (Broad Based Government) | 2% | 1% | 3% | – | 2% | – | 3% | 1% |
| My candidate is in power | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 4% | – | 1% |
| Formation of the new cabinet | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | – | 4% | – | 1% |
| The county assembly (MCAs) are working well | 2% | – | 1% | 1% | 1% | – | – | 1% |
| The country is actively fighting corruption | – | 1% | – | 2% | – | – | – | 1% |
Reasons Why Kenyans Feel the Country is Headed in the Wrong Direction
You have mentioned that the country is headed in the wrong direction; why do you say so? (n = 1,356)
Reasons for Wrong Direction — Breakdowns
By region, gender, and age (n = 1,356)
| Reason | Coast | North Eastern | Eastern | Central | Rift Valley | Western | Nyanza | Nairobi | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High cost of living | 61% | 73% | 63% | 67% | 70% | 66% | 75% | 57% | 66% |
| Unemployment | 39% | 44% | 24% | 33% | 28% | 32% | 28% | 27% | 30% |
| Poor Governance | 12% | 17% | 17% | 19% | 14% | 15% | 8% | 17% | 15% |
| SHIF/SHA is not working | 12% | 6% | 11% | 16% | 15% | 20% | 20% | 15% | 15% |
| Rampant corruption in the country | 25% | 8% | 12% | 12% | 16% | 10% | 14% | 19% | 14% |
| Ongoing challenges in the education sector | 8% | 18% | 10% | 11% | 8% | 10% | 15% | 13% | 11% |
| Poverty | 12% | 11% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 6% | 6% | 6% | 8% |
| Extra Judicial Killings | 4% | 2% | 4% | 7% | 7% | 14% | 13% | 6% | 7% |
| Poor infrastructure | 4% | 12% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 10% | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Lack of cohesion in the country | 6% | 2% | 7% | 2% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 5% |
| Stalled Government Projects | 2% | 12% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 7% | 6% | 3% | 5% |
| Increased insecurity/crime | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 4% |
| Tribalism | 5% | 9% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 4% |
| Unequal distribution of resources/jobs | 4% | 2% | 5% | 5% | 2% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Arbitrary arrest and detention | 1% | – | 0.4% | 2% | 3% | 4% | – | 1% | 2% |
| Abductions | 2% | – | 2% | 2% | 3% | 1% | 1% | – | 1% |
| Overblowing public debt | – | – | 3% | 1% | 2% | – | 1% | 2% | 1% |
| Unresolved land/squatter issues | – | – | 3% | 1% | – | – | – | 1% | 1% |
| Erosion of societal values | – | 2% | 1% | 0.4% | 1% | – | – | 1% | 1% |
| Reason | Male | Female | 18-26 | 27-35 | 36-45 | 46-55 | Over 55 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High cost of living | 63% | 69% | 59% | 64% | 72% | 64% | 68% | 66% |
| Unemployment | 32% | 28% | 35% | 27% | 34% | 26% | 29% | 30% |
| Poor Governance | 16% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 15% |
| SHIF/SHA is not working | 14% | 16% | 19% | 16% | 12% | 17% | 10% | 15% |
| Rampant corruption in the country | 13% | 16% | 13% | 15% | 16% | 13% | 11% | 14% |
| Ongoing challenges in the education sector | 11% | 10% | 14% | 12% | 8% | 12% | 7% | 11% |
| Poverty | 7% | 9% | 8% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 8% | 8% |
| Extra Judicial Killings | 7% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 6% | 5% | 7% |
| Poor infrastructure | 6% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 7% | 7% | 6% |
| Lack of cohesion in the country | 6% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 6% | 6% | 2% | 5% |
| Stalled Government Projects | 5% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| Increased insecurity/crime | 5% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 4% |
| Tribalism | 3% | 4% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 4% | – | 4% |
| Unequal distribution of resources/jobs | 3% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 3% |
| Arbitrary arrest and detention | 2% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| Abductions | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% |
| Overblowing public debt | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% |
| Unresolved land/squatter issues | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0.5% | 1% | – | 1% |
| Erosion of societal values | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Key Issues of Concern
Which three key issues concern you as a Kenyan and need to be addressed by the government as a matter of priority? (n = 2,400)
Key Issues of Concern — Breakdowns
By region, gender, and age (n = 2,400)
| Issue | Coast | North Eastern | Eastern | Central | Rift Valley | Western | Nyanza | Nairobi | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High cost of living | 39% | 42% | 41% | 41% | 38% | 46% | 38% | 36% | 40% |
| Unemployment | 41% | 35% | 36% | 38% | 33% | 32% | 31% | 41% | 36% |
| Access to quality and affordable education | 23% | 31% | 30% | 30% | 31% | 32% | 34% | 31% | 31% |
| SHIF/SHA issues | 20% | 20% | 26% | 30% | 30% | 27% | 30% | 26% | 27% |
| Corruption | 23% | 19% | 27% | 27% | 23% | 27% | 26% | 28% | 25% |
| Over taxation | 29% | 20% | 17% | 22% | 19% | 16% | 19% | 21% | 20% |
| Transport, Infrastructure and Roads | 14% | 19% | 15% | 13% | 17% | 16% | 16% | 10% | 15% |
| Access to quality and affordable healthcare | 8% | 13% | 10% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 14% | 7% | 13% |
| Extra-judicial killings | 6% | 6% | 8% | 12% | 8% | 10% | 12% | 10% | 9% |
| Insecurity/crime | 12% | 11% | 8% | 6% | 10% | 4% | 4% | 8% | 8% |
| Empowerment of youth | 10% | 7% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 8% | 13% | 8% | 8% |
| Cost of doing business | 8% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 7% |
| Poverty reduction | 7% | 5% | 7% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| Access to clean water | 2% | 16% | 8% | 1% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 1% | 4% |
| Cost of farm inputs | 2% | – | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 4% |
| Women empowerment | 6% | 7% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 3% |
| Equal distribution of resources | 4% | 2% | 5% | 1% | 4% | 4% | 2% | 6% | 3% |
| Student protests | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 5% | 2% |
| Public participation | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Drug and substance abuse | 3% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Alcoholism | 1% | 3% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 0.4% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Ethnicity/Tribalism | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0.4% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% |
| Environmental conservation | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0.3% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% |
| Disaster management | – | 5% | 1% | 0.3% | 1% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 1% | 1% |
| Issue | Male | Female | 18-26 | 27-35 | 36-45 | 46-55 | Over 55 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High cost of living | 39% | 41% | 42% | 38% | 41% | 38% | 46% | 40% |
| Unemployment | 36% | 35% | 42% | 37% | 35% | 32% | 31% | 36% |
| Access to quality and affordable education | 30% | 31% | 30% | 32% | 30% | 29% | 35% | 31% |
| SHIF/SHA issues | 25% | 30% | 24% | 27% | 30% | 28% | 20% | 27% |
| Corruption | 28% | 22% | 27% | 28% | 23% | 22% | 22% | 25% |
| Over taxation | 21% | 19% | 19% | 20% | 22% | 19% | 11% | 20% |
| Transport, Infrastructure and Roads | 18% | 13% | 15% | 14% | 15% | 17% | 18% | 15% |
| Access to quality and affordable healthcare | 11% | 15% | 15% | 12% | 13% | 12% | 13% | 13% |
| Extra-judicial killings | 10% | 8% | 8% | 9% | 11% | 8% | 9% | 9% |
| Insecurity/crime | 10% | 6% | 6% | 10% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 8% |
| Empowerment of youth | 9% | 7% | 9% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 3% | 8% |
| Cost of doing business | 6% | 7% | 5% | 7% | 6% | 7% | 9% | 7% |
| Poverty reduction | 6% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| Access to clean water | 4% | 4% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 7% | 5% | 4% |
| Cost of farm inputs | 4% | 3% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 6% | 4% |
| Women empowerment | 2% | 5% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 3% |
| Equal distribution of resources | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 3% | 3% |
| Student protests | 3% | 1% | 3% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 2% |
| Public participation | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 5% | 1% | 2% |
| Drug and substance abuse | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Alcoholism | 2% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 2% |
| Ethnicity/Tribalism | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 1% | 1% |
| Environmental conservation | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 0.3% | 2% | 1% |
| Disaster management | 1% | 1% | – | 1% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
Perception of the Current Cost of Living in Kenya
On a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is very low and 5 is very high, to what extent would you rate the current cost of living in Kenya? (n = 2,400)
Cost of Living Perception — Breakdown by Gender & Age
| Rating | Male | Female | 18-26 | 27-35 | 36-45 | 46-55 | Over 55 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very Low | 4% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 7% | 6% | 3% | 5% |
| Low | 8% | 7% | 8% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 9% | 8% |
| Average | 18% | 16% | 20% | 16% | 19% | 16% | 9% | 17% |
| High | 25% | 23% | 25% | 26% | 23% | 20% | 23% | 24% |
| Very High | 44% | 48% | 43% | 45% | 44% | 52% | 56% | 46% |
Changes in Cost of Living: Now vs. One Year Ago
How would you compare the cost of living now and a year ago? (n = 2,400)
Cost of Living Change — Breakdowns
By region, gender, and age (n = 2,400)
| Response | Coast | North Eastern | Eastern | Central | Rift Valley | Western | Nyanza | Nairobi | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Much higher than before | 64% | 57% | 66% | 74% | 60% | 64% | 57% | 59% | 63% |
| Somewhat higher than before | 20% | 19% | 17% | 11% | 15% | 14% | 18% | 20% | 16% |
| It has remained the same as before | 8% | 13% | 9% | 11% | 14% | 10% | 15% | 13% | 12% |
| It is lower | 4% | 6% | 5% | 1% | 5% | 8% | 7% | 1% | 5% |
| It is much lower than before | 3% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 5% | 4% |
| Don't Know/Refused to Answer | 0.4% | – | 0.3% | – | 0.1% | – | – | 1% | 0.3% |
| Response | Male | Female | 18-26 | 27-35 | 36-45 | 46-55 | Over 55 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Much higher than before | 59% | 67% | 61% | 62% | 63% | 66% | 66% | 63% |
| Somewhat higher than before | 17% | 16% | 17% | 17% | 16% | 18% | 11% | 16% |
| It has remained the same as before | 14% | 10% | 12% | 12% | 14% | 8% | 12% | 12% |
| It is lower | 7% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 6% | 5% |
| It is much lower than before | 4% | 4% | 6% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 4% |
| Don't Know/Refused to Answer | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | – | – | 0.3% |
Perceived Main Causes of High Cost of Living in Kenya
What do you believe is the main cause of the current high cost of living in Kenya? (n = 2,400)
Causes of High Cost of Living — Breakdowns
By region, gender, and age (n = 2,400)
| Cause | Coast | North Eastern | Eastern | Central | Rift Valley | Western | Nyanza | Nairobi | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | 49% | 39% | 35% | 41% | 42% | 44% | 30% | 43% | 40% |
| Global Economic Factors (e.g. fuel prices, supply chain issues) | 11% | 25% | 19% | 20% | 18% | 21% | 28% | 12% | 19% |
| Government Policies | 13% | 17% | 13% | 16% | 16% | 14% | 20% | 19% | 16% |
| Corruption | 13% | 10% | 19% | 13% | 14% | 9% | 16% | 17% | 14% |
| Lack of Employment Opportunities | 6% | 3% | 8% | 3% | 6% | 9% | 3% | 5% | 6% |
| Poor Agricultural Productivity | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| Don't know | 4% | 4% | 3% | 4% | 3% | 1% | 1% | 4% | 3% |
| Cause | Male | Female | 18-26 | 27-35 | 36-45 | 46-55 | Over 55 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | 41% | 39% | 39% | 45% | 41% | 32% | 33% | 40% |
| Global Economic Factors (e.g. fuel prices, supply chain issues) | 19% | 19% | 22% | 17% | 20% | 22% | 21% | 19% |
| Government Policies | 14% | 18% | 15% | 14% | 17% | 20% | 14% | 16% |
| Corruption | 16% | 13% | 15% | 14% | 15% | 13% | 16% | 14% |
| Lack of Employment Opportunities | 6% | 5% | 5% | 7% | 4% | 5% | 7% | 6% |
| Poor Agricultural Productivity | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 3% | 2% |
| Don't know | 2% | 4% | 2% | 3% | 2% | 5% | 7% | 3% |
Survey Demographics
Age distribution of respondents
Gender of respondents
Religion of respondents
Employment status of respondents
Level of education of respondents
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