Kenyans across the political divide consider corruption the biggest factor hindering the country’s development.

According to a National Public Issues Survey released on May 28, 2025, by Trends and Insights Africa (TIFA), poor leadership also ranked as the highest factor.

“ For all Kenyans as well as those expressing support for or opposition to the Broad-Based Government (BBG), corruption and poor leadership rank the highest,” the survey read.

“This is so even if fewer who are pro-BBG mention either of these two factors (33% vs. 48% for corruption and 25% vs. 31% for poor leadership).”

According to the survey conducted on May 2, 2025, and May 6, 2025, most pro-BBG respondents mention tribalism or ethnic tensions more often than those who are anti-BBG.

“And the same applies to those who say they are ‘not sure’ what is the main cause of Kenya’s lack of greater development (10% vs. 4% for the former factor and 7% vs. 2% for the latter),” the survey revealed.

More findings

Further, the survey revealed that most Kenyans are expressing deep concern over the country’s trajectory, with a majority feeling that the nation is steadily moving in the wrong direction, attributed to the rising economic pressure, the high cost of living, and widespread dissatisfaction with leadership.

“Asked about the country’s current direction, a sizeable majority of Kenyans believe that it is ‘wrong’, five times more than the fewer than one-fifth of a contrary (positive) view. This leaves the remainder either with no clear opinion about this reality or who are unwilling to express one,” the survey read.

The data reveals that 75 per cent of respondents believe Kenya is heading in the wrong direction, a figure that dwarfs the 14 per cent who said the country is on the right track.

A further 11 per cent either had no opinion or declined to express one.

The report attributes this bleak outlook largely to the public’s lived economic realities, with cost-of-living concerns dominating the national conversation.

This comes days after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), in partnership with the Global Compact Network Kenya (GCNK), announced plans to launch the Corruption Risk Assessment and Management Guidelines on May 23, 2025.

The guidelines offer a practical framework for organisations to proactively identify, assess, and manage corruption risks in their operations.

They also mandate the EACC to assist public entities, private entities, and any interested persons in developing and implementing procedures for the prevention of bribery and corruption.

EACC Chairperson David Oginde, EACC Commissioners, Secretary and CEO Abdi A. Mohamud, Sasini Plc Group MD and CEO Martin Ochien’g, who also chairs the Global Compact Network Kenya Board, and the Network’s Executive Director,  Judy Njino are expected to attend the event.