Two-thirds of Kenyans say their household finances have worsened since the 2022 General Election, with only a small share reporting an improvement, according to a new national survey by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) Research.
The survey found that 66 per cent of respondents consider themselves worse off economically than they were before the 2022 election, while only 12 per cent said their situation had improved. The findings point to continued pressure on household finances nearly four years into President William Ruto’s first term.
TIFA released the findings on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as the second instalment from its June 2026 national poll. The survey involved face-to-face interviews with 2,048 randomly selected adults across all 47 counties between June 13 and 22. It has a margin of error of ±2.18 per cent.
When asked whether their personal or family economic situation was better, worse or about the same compared with before the last election, 65 per cent said it was worse, 23 per cent said it was about the same, while 12 per cent said it was better.
A separate companion chart using a slightly different wording placed the proportion saying they were worse off at 66 per cent, with the share reporting an improvement remaining at 12 per cent.
The findings show that negative views about household finances have remained high since TIFA began tracking the question in May 2025.
In May 2025, 75 per cent said they were worse off and 10 per cent said they were better off. The August 2025 survey recorded 70 per cent worse off and 10 per cent better off, while the November 2025 poll put the figures at 67 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.
By May 2026, the proportion saying they were worse off had fallen to 64 per cent, while 19 per cent reported an improvement. In June, however, the worse-off figure rose slightly to 65 per cent, while the share reporting better finances fell to 12 per cent.
TIFA said there has been “no (statistically significant) change” in the trend since November 2025, despite the slight movement in the latest figures.
The research also warns that the economic mood could have political consequences if it remains unchanged.
“With some two-thirds of Kenyans indicating a worsening of their economic situation, unless this changes over the next year, it could be challenging for all politicians seeking re-election, especially those identified with the incumbent government,” the report states.
The feeling of being worse off was recorded across all nine TIFA sampling zones, although the level varied from one region to another.
Mt. Kenya recorded the highest proportion, with 79 per cent saying their economic situation had deteriorated since 2022. Western followed at 74 per cent, while South Rift stood at 71 per cent.
Lower Eastern and Nairobi each recorded 69 per cent, while Coast had 57 per cent. Central Rift recorded 53 per cent.
The survey also showed that economic concerns remain present in areas where support for the Broad-Based Government (BBG) is strongest. In Nyanza, 58 per cent said they were worse off, compared with 53 per cent in Central Rift and 49 per cent in Northern Kenya.
Political affiliation also influenced how respondents assessed their financial situation.
Among BBG supporters, half said their economic position had worsened since 2022, while 19 per cent said it had improved. Among those opposed to the BBG, 71 per cent said they were worse off and only eight per cent reported an improvement.
TIFA said the difference raises questions about whether political views are shaping perceptions of the economy alongside actual financial experiences.
“Additional data would be required to determine whether such contrasts reflect actual economic differences, or rather, are (mainly) a consequence of political bias,” the report notes.
The negative mood was not limited to how respondents viewed their own households. When asked to assess the national economy, 65 per cent described the situation as “very bad”, compared with only two per cent who considered it “very good”.
Even among BBG supporters, the national economic outlook remained largely negative, with 48 per cent describing the economy as “very bad”, compared with four per cent who rated it “very good”.