Unemployment, high food prices biggest household challenges of 2025 – Report

A majority of Kenyans are struggling with unemployment and high food prices, as the biggest financial challenges facing their households in 2025. 

This is according to the latest Infotrak End of Year survey, which shows that 26 per cent of respondents identified unemployment as the single biggest financial challenge facing their households, closely followed by high food prices at 25 per cent.

Other major pressures included school fees at 17 per cent, low wages at 14 per cent, and healthcare costs at 8 per cent. Rent and housing and debt were each cited by 5 per cent of respondents.

Beyond household budgets, the report indicates that economic hardship is increasingly affecting mental and emotional well-being.

Half of Kenyans (50 per cent) said economic stress has led to increased stress and anxiety, while 25 per cent reported that it has negatively affected their mental health. A further 22 per cent said economic pressure has resulted in physical health issues, while 17 per cent said it was a strain on personal relationships.

As households grapple with rising costs, the findings suggest many Kenyans are coping rather than recovering. The poll shows that 39 per cent of respondents are seeking additional employment or income sources to survive the economic strain.

Another 22 per cent said they are borrowing money from friends or family, while 15 per cent reported taking out loans or using credit cards. Notably, 11 per cent said they depend on rations, with the North Eastern region recording the highest reliance at 33 per cent.

On the causes of the high cost of living, respondents largely blamed governance-related factors.

Corruption was the highest, with 31 per cent of respondents saying it was the main driver of the high cost of living, followed by taxes at 26 per cent. Government policies accounted for 16 per cent, while global economic factors, such as fuel prices and supply chain disruptions, stood at 13 per cent.

Among young people aged 18 to 26, 41 per cent blamed corruption for the high cost of living, the highest across all age groups, reflecting strong youth sentiment on governance and accountability.

The Infotrak poll findings paint a picture of widespread financial strain, with unemployment, food prices and governance concerns shaping both household stability and the mental well-being of millions of Kenyans.