Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenyans were dissatisfied with their government’s economic performance as increasing numbers reported poor economic conditions, an Afrobarometer analysis shows.
Despite a decade of strong economic growth that allowed Kenya to be classified as a middle-income country, a majority of citizens were not content with the economic situation, according to the survey, which was conducted in August-September 2019.
Fewer than half of Kenyans said the country was moving in the right direction, and most described economic conditions as bad, even if a growing minority gave positive assessments of their own living conditions. Young Kenyans were generally a bit more upbeat about the economy than their elders.