Loading article content...
Loading article content...
Kenya, 15 November 2026 - Nearly half of Kenyans believe the country is on the wrong path, according to a national opinion poll by Swiss Poll International released on Saturday, 14 November 2026.
The survey found that 48% of respondents say Kenya is headed in the wrong direction, while 41% say it is headed in the right direction. Another 11% said they were not sure.
The findings are based on 4,113 telephone interviews conducted between 5 to 10 November 2026. Of the respondents, 2,184 (53.1%) were male and 1,929 (46.9%) were female. The pollster gave a margin of error of plus or minus 3% at a 95% confidence level. Majority were of the age bracket 26-35 at 30% followed by 36-45 at 25% with 46-55 age bracket closely following with 15% just two percentage points ahead of age bracket 18-25. Those in the age bracket 46-55 were at 11% with those in the age bracket of above 66 finishing at 6%.
Those who said the country is on the wrong path most often pointed to the high cost of living, at 34%. Unemployment followed at 22% and corruption at 15%. Poor governance was cited by 10%, healthcare challenges by 7%, education challenges by 5% and insecurity by 4%. Other reasons accounted for 3%.
More from Kenya
Among those who said the country is headed in the right direction, 30% cited economic projects. Infrastructure was the reason for 22%, education reforms for 18% and healthcare for 12%. Agriculture accounted for 8%, devolution for 6% and other reasons for 4%.
The pollster noted that the wrong-direction view exceeds the right-direction view by seven percentage points. It said that although a substantial proportion of respondents expressed confidence in the national trajectory, the balance of sentiment is negative.
The same poll found President William Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leading presidential preference at 37%, ahead of Wiper Patriotic Front Leader Kalonzo Musyoka at 28% and Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) presidential aspirant Edwin Sifuna at 15%.
Fred Matiang'i of Jubilee Party scored 6% to tie with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) just two percentage points ahead of People's Party of Kenya (PPK) party leader Ndindi Nyoro who secured 4%. Other presidential aspirants shared 1% with 3% of those interviewed remaining undecided. The pollster described the figures as present reported preference, not a projected result.