REVEALED: The Two Biggest Problems Troubling Kenyans Right Now

Unemployment and poverty remain the biggest concerns facing Kenyans, with 44% identifying them as the country’s most serious problem, according to a new TIFA Research poll released on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

Economic pressures dominated responses in the survey, with another 25% pointing to inflation, high prices and high taxes.

Combined, the two categories account for 69 % of responses, showing that economic hardship remains far more prominent in the public’s concerns than political, security or social issues.

Corruption followed as the third most frequently cited problem, with 19% of respondents naming it as their biggest concern.

Other issues attracted significantly fewer mentions, including poor leadership at 7%, while lack of access to healthcare and threats to peace and stability each stood at two per cent.

Political or ethnic tensions, crime and insecurity, and lack of access to quality education each attracted 1%

Economic concerns regain top position

TIFA’s findings show a significant shift in how Kenyans ranked their most serious concerns between May and June.

In May, inflation, high prices and high taxes had surged to 47%, overtaking unemployment and poverty, which stood at 23%.

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By June, however, unemployment and poverty had returned to 44 per cent, matching the level recorded in November 2025.

Concern over inflation, high prices and high taxes fell to 25% in June, although the figure remained a major component of the broader economic concerns facing households.

TIFA noted that the change came as the impact of fuel price increases in April and May appeared to ease, allowing unemployment and poverty to regain their previous position as the leading concern.

Despite the shift between the two categories, economic issues continued to dominate the survey, with almost seven in 10 respondents identifying either employment and poverty or the rising cost of living as Kenya’s most serious problem.

Corruption remained relatively stable, falling slightly from 21 per cent in May to 19 per cent in June, compared with 20 per cent in November 2025.

Views cut across BBG divide

Perceptions of Kenya’s biggest problem showed little difference based on respondents’ views of the Broad-Based Government (BBG).

Among those who supported the BBG, 43% identified unemployment and poverty as the country’s most serious problem. An identical 43% of opponents gave the same response.

The figure was also 43% among respondents who had no opinion on the BBG, while 55 per cent of those who did not know or declined to respond identified unemployment and poverty.

Inflation, high prices and high taxes were cited by 25% of BBG supporters and 24% of opponents. Among those with no opinion, the figure stood at 29%.

Corruption attracted 17% among BBG supporters and 21% among opponents, suggesting that political views had only a limited effect on how respondents ranked the country’s most serious problems.

Also Read: Ruto Taken to Court as Data Shows Rising Poverty

TIFA’s findings indicate that Kenyans across different political positions continue to face largely similar economic pressures, with unemployment, poverty and the cost of living remaining central to their concerns.

The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 2,048 randomly selected Kenyan adults across all 47 counties between June 13 and 22, 2026.

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Job seekers wait to hand in their documents at County Hall, Nairobi, on May 26, 2017. PHOTO/NMG