73% of Kenyans Are in Severe Financial Distress or Struggling to Make Ends Meet - Poll

According to an Infotrak poll, a majority of Kenyans are either in a severe financial distress or struggling to make ends meet.

In the poll released on Monday, January 22, 73% of Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet due to the harsh economic times.  

The Infotrak poll indicates that 18% are in severe financial distress, 55% are struggling to make ends meet and only 5% are comfortably managing. 

According to the poll, the worst hit regions where Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet include; 

North Eastern - 78%

Coast -  76%

Central - 74%

Rift Valley - 73%

To cope with the tough times, a majority of Kenyans have gotten a side hustle and reduced non-essential expenditure, the poll states. 

"Getting a side hustle and reducing non-essential expenditure are the main coping strategies adopted by Kenyans to cope with the economic hardships," reads the poll in part.  

The Infotrak poll notes that 45% of Kenyans are engaged in a side hustle to supplement their income, 41% have reduced their expenditure on non-essentials and 18% have taken out loans to fill the gaps. 

The poll indicates that most Kenyans are pessimistic that things will get tough in 2024. A segment of Kenyans predicts that unemployment will increase as well as school fees. 

In the recent past, President William Ruto has insisted that his Kenya Kwanza administration has stabilised the economy which he said had been ruined by massive debts. 

''We were in a situation where we were deep in debt and did not have a programme to get us out of the mess, I am now happy to tell you that we have stabilised the economy of Kenya," Ruto said.