Trump’s presidency has a negative impact on the country, says poll

A new survey by TIFA Research, conducted between May 2 and 6, 2025, shows that half of Kenyans think Donald Trump’s presidency will negatively affect the country.

The results, drawn from TIFA’s second release of its National Public Issues Survey titled State of the Nation, Kenya Kwanza Government Performance, 2027 Election Issues, and Foreign Relations, reflect a widespread concern among Kenyans regarding the potential economic and political consequences of Trump’s leadership on Kenya.

The survey, which polled 2,024 participants from Kenya’s nine regions, revealed that only 24% of respondents believe Trump’s presidency will be beneficial to Kenya.

Meanwhile, 18% think it will have no impact, and 8% remain undecided or lack an opinion.

The largely negative outlook transcends political loyalties, with concerns shared almost equally among backers and critics of the Broad-Based Government (BBG) the alliance between President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Among BBG supporters, 54% foresee negative consequences, closely mirrored by 52% of those opposed to the coalition.

Poor leadership and rising unemployment were among the top reasons cited for the widespread pessimism.

“The vast majority of Kenyans have seen their economic situation worsen since the last election,” the report states.

Against this backdrop, apprehension over Trump’s presidency appears to be heightened by Kenya’s dependence on foreign aid and international trade, especially with the United States.

According to the survey, the U.S. is viewed as Kenya’s most crucial non-East African partner in both economic and political spheres, with 33% of respondents naming it vital to maintaining strong diplomatic ties.

At the same time, the U.S. is also seen as the biggest external threat to Kenya’s development (26%), followed by China at 14%.