Skip to content
News release

Majority of Kenyans support democracy, endorse term limits for the president, Afrobarometer surveys show

5 Nov 2024 Kenya
Download (English)
News release
Key findings
  • About three-fourths (74%) of Kenyans say democracy is preferable to any other political system (Figure 1).
  • A similar majority (77%) support regular, open, and honest elections as the best way to choose their political leaders (Figure 2).
  • Almost nine in 10 Kenyans (86%) endorse a two-term limit on presidential mandates, a position that has consistently had strong support for the past decade (Figure 3).
  • ▪ Term limits are more popular among citizens who prefer democracy over any other system (89%) than among those who think that a non-democratic government can sometimes be preferable (75%) and those who say it doesn’t matter what kind of government they have (80%) (Figure 4). o Presidential term limits draw strong majority endorsements from both United Democratic Alliance supporters (81%) and Orange Democratic Movement adherents (90%).

By strong majorities, Kenyans consistently support democracy, favour choosing leaders  through elections, and endorse a two-term limit for the president, the latest Afrobarometer  survey report reveals. 

A majority of Kenyans say democracy is preferable to any other political system, and most  support regular, open, and honest elections as the best way to choose their political leaders.  For more than a decade, most have consistently supported a two-term limit on presidential  mandates. 

Term limits are more popular among citizens who prefer democracy over any other system  than among those who think that a non-democratic government can sometimes be  preferable. In terms of political affiliation, presidential term limits draw strong majority  endorsements from both United Democratic Alliance supporters and Orange Democratic  Movement adherents.