The latest national survey by TIFA has revealed deepening pessimism among Kenyans, with a majority believing the country is on the wrong path.

According to the TIFA polls released on December 18, 2025, the discontent is particularly pronounced in the Mt Kenya region, a historically influential political bloc.

Conducted from 10 to 17 November 2025 among 2,053 adults across all 47 counties, the survey shows that 68% of Kenyans feel the country is heading in the wrong direction, compared to just 17% who say it is going in the right direction.

“Asked about the country’s current direction, two-thirds of Kenyans believe that it is ‘wrong’ (68%), four times more than the fewer than one-fifth of a contrary (positive) view (17%). Regionally, the most positive are residents in the Northern and Central Rift zones, but even there, such positive views are held by fewer than half (40% and 32%, respectively). On the negative side, most adamant are those in Mt. Kenya (83%), followed by those in Lower Eastern and Coast (76% and 73%, respectively),” the TIFA report notes.

Regional discontent

Regionally, Mt Kenya leads in dissatisfaction, with 83% of respondents believing the country is on the wrong track. This is followed by Lower Eastern at 76%, Coast 73%, Nairobi 73%, South Rift 70%, Nyanza 69%, Western 67%, Central Rift 45%, and Northern 49%.

“While robust majorities across all of Kenya’s nine zones report their personal/family’s economic situation as having worsened since the last election, such negative figures are highest in Mt. Kenya and Nairobi (83% and 76%, respectively).”

“By contrast, the lowest such negative figure comes from Northern (49%). At the same time, only in Northern is the proportion of those reporting any improvement in their economic conditions above one-third (36%), one-third more than that of the next highest figure in Central Rift (23%), the lowest such figure coming from residents of the Mt Kenya area (8%),” read part of the TIFA polls.

The report highlights a widening geographic spread of pessimism, extending concerns beyond traditional political hotspots.

Views on the Broad-Based Government (BBG) also reflect economic realities: 51% of BBG supporters perceive the country as moving in the wrong direction, compared to 84% of opponents.

TIFA emphasises that economic pressures remain the dominant factor shaping national sentiment. In Mt Kenya, where 83% report worsened household finances, dissatisfaction is at its peak.