Reasons Why 42% of Kenyans Say the Country Is Headed in the Wrong Direction – Report

A recent Infotrak 2025 End-Year Poll 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.

The survey highlights regional differences in public sentiment. North Eastern Kenya leads in optimism, with 42 percent saying the country is on the right track. In contrast, Central Kenya reports the highest dissatisfaction, with 65 percent stating 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 also shows slight differences by gender. Men are a bit more optimistic (23%) than women (18%). Women, on the other hand, are more likely to prioritize church attendance (37%) during the festive season compared to men (27%).

Younger Kenyans aged 18–26 show the lowest level of “wrong direction” sentiment at 38%, but 12 percent of them answered “don’t know,” indicating political uncertainty or detachment.

The main reasons cited for negative sentiment include the high cost of living and economic hardships (67%), unemployment (33%), poor governance or politics (27%), and challenges in the education sector (26%). New concerns identified in late 2025 include stalled development and infrastructure (25%), health sector failures (12%), and human rights violations (8%).

Among the minority who view the country positively, the top reasons include a perception that the government is performing well (46%), effective devolution with active governors and county assemblies (29%), and good infrastructure (23%).

The Infotrak poll shows that while optimism is slowly rising, many Kenyans remain concerned about economic and social challenges as the country heads into 2026.