More than half of Kenyans will not celebrate Christmas this year, according to the Infotrak 2025 End-Year Poll, pointing to continued economic and social pressures across the country.
The survey shows that 55 percent of Kenyans do not plan to take part in Christmas celebrations, while only 45 percent say they will celebrate. This is a slight improvement from last year, when 60 percent of respondents said they would not celebrate the festive season.
Infotrak notes that the highest number of Kenyans who will skip Christmas celebrations are from the Western region. By age, those between 46 and 55 years are the least likely to celebrate.
“Traditional activities have seen a year-over-year decline. For example, spending time with family dropped from 63% in 2024 to 53% in 2025,” the report states.
Among those who plan to celebrate Christmas, spending time with family remains the top activity at 53 percent, followed by attending church or prayer services at 31 percent. Others say they will spend time with friends (20%), go on holiday (11%), party or drink (7%), or stay indoors (6%).
Regional differences also emerged. The Coast region has the highest number of people planning to party and drink at 14 percent, while Nairobi residents are the most likely to travel for holidays, with 21 percent saying they will go away during the festive season.
As Kenyans prepare for Christmas, President William Ruto on December 24 shared a festive message urging caution, especially on the roads. In a video posted on his Instagram stories from State House, the President wished Kenyans well as they head into the holidays.
“Kenyans, 2025 we clocked it. I wish you a Merry Christmas, a great and blessed 2026 and on the road, let’s drive carefully. Avoid unnecessary loses,” Ruto said.
The Infotrak poll also highlights broader public concerns about the country’s direction. The survey shows that 42 percent of Kenyans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, compared to 21 percent who feel it is moving in the right direction.
Regional views vary widely. North Eastern Kenya is the most optimistic, with 42 percent saying the country is on the right track. Central Kenya records the highest dissatisfaction, with 65 percent of residents saying the country is moving in the wrong direction.
“Sentiment has improved significantly since September 2024, when 73 percent of Kenyans felt the country was in the wrong direction. However, the ‘right direction’ view has only grown slightly from 15 percent to 21 percent in the same period,” the report notes.
The poll shows slight gender differences, with men more optimistic than women at 23 percent compared to 18 percent. Women are also more likely to prioritize church attendance during the festive season, at 37 percent, compared to 27 percent of men.
Young Kenyans aged between 18 and 26 show the lowest level of pessimism, with 38 percent saying the country is headed in the wrong direction. However, 12 percent of this age group said they were unsure, suggesting political uncertainty or detachment.
High living costs and economic hardship remain the biggest reasons for negative sentiment, cited by 67 percent of respondents. Other concerns include unemployment (33%), poor governance and politics (27%), challenges in the education sector (26%), stalled development and infrastructure (25%), health sector failures (12%), and human rights violations (8%).
Among the minority who view the country positively, respondents point to a belief that the government is performing well (46%), improved devolution through active governors and county assemblies (29%), and better infrastructure (23%).
Infotrak concludes that while there are signs of slowly improving optimism, many Kenyans remain worried about economic and social challenges as the country heads into 2026.
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