According to an InfoTrack report, a significant majority of Kenyans (63%) believe that the country is headed in the wrong direction, an increase from the previous polls.
The report released on June 6, 2024, showed that only 19% of Kenyans involved in the poll agreed that Kenya is headed in the right direction.
“A majority of the respondents (63%) noted that the country is headed in the wrong direction, with only 19% agreeing that it is headed in the right direction,” the report read.
A major factor contributing to the negative outlook is the high cost of living, cited by 45% of respondents.
“Among the reasons mentioned that point to the country heading in the wrong direction, we had a high cost of living (45%) and high taxes imposed on them (27%),” InfoTrack report stated.
This issue has been a consistent concern in previous polls, with a staggering 89% of respondents in the August/September 2023 poll highlighting it as their primary concern.
InfoTrack Report on High Cost of Living
Alongside the cost of living, high taxes were mentioned by 27% of respondents with the combination of these economic pressures is making daily life increasingly difficult for many Kenyans, leading to widespread discontent, according to the report.
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“Among the top issues of concern to Kenyans, the cost of living took the lead at (49%), followed by unemployment (30%) and transport, infrastructure, and roads (22%). Other issues are the cost of doing business (19%) and access to healthcare (19%),” the report further read.
Nairobi residents were among the most concerned, with 74% believing the country is on the wrong path. This is followed by residents from Eastern and Nyanza regions at 69% and 68% respectively.
In addition to the cost of living and high taxes, respondents cited unemployment as another major concern.
“30% of respondents citing unemployment as a major concern, this issue remains a critical challenge. The impact of unemployment is also seen to vary by gender, with 32% of male adults and 29% of female adults highlighting it as a significant issue,” InfoTrack remarked.
Regional Analysis
The regional analysis showed that the cost of living is a particularly pressing issue in the Nyanza region, with 60% identifying it as their primary concern.
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Other regions, including the Coast, Northeastern, Nairobi, Central, Rift Valley, Western, and Eastern, scored below average in terms of concern over the cost of living, highlighting the need for region-specific policies.
However, 19% of respondents believe the country is heading in the right direction, with (31%) stating that the economy is doing well and the peace in the country were the main reasons for their optimism.
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