A new survey by research firm Infotrak indicates that a majority of Kenyans consider the death of longtime opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as the most significant event of 2025.
According to the poll, 30 per cent of respondents singled out Raila’s death as the defining moment of the year.
The finding places the event well ahead of other major national developments that shaped public discourse during the period under review.
The death was followed by Gen Z–led protests across the country, which were cited by 12 per cent of respondents as the most significant occurrence of the year.
The rising cost of living ranked third at 11 per cent, underscoring persistent economic pressures facing households.
Other issues that featured prominently in the survey included politics and governance, abductions and killings, financial hardship, employment challenges, as well as personal and family matters.
Each of these categories recorded scores ranging between 5 per cent and 8 per cent, reflecting a broad spectrum of concerns among Kenyans.
The survey was conducted between December 19 and 20, 2025, using Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI).
Infotrak said the methodology was designed to ensure accuracy and national representativeness.
A total of 1,000 respondents participated in the survey, representing the adult Kenyan population aged 18 years and above.
The sampling frame was developed using Population Proportionate to Size (PPS), guided by data from the 2019 national census.
The poll covered all 47 counties and eight regions of the country, with the sample distribution proportionately allocated across regions to reflect the national population structure.
The margin of error was ±3.10 per cent at a 95 per cent confidence level.
Data collected during the exercise was processed and analysed using SPSS version 27 statistical software, which Infotrak cited for its high accuracy and reliability in handling survey data.
