Unemployment and poverty top the list of Kenya’s most pressing national concerns, according to findings from a TIFA National Survey released on September 9, 2026.
The survey reveals that 44 per cent of respondents identified unemployment and poverty as their primary worry, establishing economic hardship as the single largest challenge facing citizens.
Economic concerns continue to dominate public anxiety, with inflation, high prices, and high taxes cited as the second biggest issue by a quarter of those surveyed, standing at 25 per cent.
Governance issues also weigh heavily on the public mind. Corruption ranks as the third main concern, cited by 19 per cent of respondents, while poor leadership was noted by 7 per cent.
Public concerns drop significantly across healthcare, security, and social issues. A lack of access to healthcare and threats to peace and stability were each identified by 2 per cent of respondents. Meanwhile, political or ethnic tensions, crime and insecurity, and a lack of access to quality education each registered as a primary concern for just 1 per cent of citizens.
According to the survey details, the categories representing “Other” and “Don’t Know / No Response” accounted for 0 per cent of total responses.
Altogether, the findings underline that livelihood pressures and financial instability remain overwhelmingly at the forefront of concerns for Kenyans across the country.
