Within the wake of the nationwide protests led by Gen-Z in Kenya on June 25, 2025, GeoPoll performed a speedy survey to gauge public sentiment and perceptions surrounding the demonstrations. These protests, organized largely by youth activists and civil society teams, have been a continuation of the rising dissent towards authorities insurance policies, police brutality, and financial hardship.
GeoPoll sought to seize the views of strange Kenyans on the causes, legitimacy, and influence of the protests. This report gives well timed insights into how residents throughout the nation perceived the motivations, actors, and authorities response tied to the occasions of June 25. It additionally serves as a follow-up to the GeoPoll Analysis – Gen Z Protests in Kenya 2024, providing a comparative lens into how public sentiment has advanced over the previous yr.
At a look
- Social media is the favored media of the June 25th protest, with 65% getting their info from social media.
- Greater than half of the respondents (57%) consider that nothing has modified between June twenty fifth, 2024, and June twenty fifth, 2025.
- Of those that bodily participated within the protest, 66% had skilled looting, mugging, beatings, and even killings.
- Political dissatisfaction was the primary cause for protesting by 31% of the respondents.
- A majority (38%) have little or no belief within the authorities to reply appropriately to the protest issues
Demographic Overview
The survey gathered responses from a various group of younger Kenyans. Most respondents have been aged 25-34 (52%), with a balanced illustration of males (57%), and females (43%). A majority held school levels (67%), whereas 49% have been unemployed, and 18% owned small companies. Respondents have been predominantly from city (70%) and rural (30%) areas.
Key Findings
Consciousness and Media Protection
There was an amazing stage of public consciousness relating to the June 25, 2025, protests, with 97% of respondents indicating they have been conscious of the demonstrations. Social media was the dominant supply of knowledge, with 65% of respondents reporting that they relied on social media platforms for updates and developments, reflecting the rising affect of digital networks, particularly amongst youthful demographics, who primarily marshal crowds from social platforms.
In the course of the protests, the federal government barred media homes from airing the protests dwell, which can be one of many the reason why tv was the first supply of knowledge for 26%, and radio was solely a secondary supply for 3%.
Media protection of the protests was considered primarily positively by the general public. This sentiment continued even if conventional media stations have been barred from airing dwell footage of the protests. In response, many broadcasters continued their protection by way of platforms like YouTube and different social media channels, the place a good portion of the general public turned to comply with developments in real-time.
A mixed 65% of respondents rated the protection as both “excellent” or “good”, suggesting that almost all felt the media did a commendable job in reporting the occasions. One other 25% rated the protection as “truthful,” whereas solely a small minority thought-about it “poor” (8%) or “very poor” (4%).
Most trusted media supply
Regardless of being the first supply of knowledge for under 26%, tv emerged because the clear chief when respondents have been requested about their most trusted sources of knowledge through the protests, with 65% of respondents.
Social media platforms adopted, with TikTok (42%), Twitter (38 %), and Fb (33%) reflecting the numerous function of digital channels in shaping public notion. Conventional media like radio (24%) and newspapers (17%) nonetheless held relevance, however at a lot decrease belief ranges. On-line information web sites (22%) and messaging apps like WhatsApp (18%) have been additionally famous, whereas influencers (15%) and different sources (2%) ranked lowest. These outcomes spotlight a various media panorama, the place each conventional and digital platforms play essential roles, however tv stays probably the most trusted outlet for almost all.
Political occasions, similar to demonstrations, could be shops for misinformation. We sought to know if the respondents confirm the knowledge they eat, and 46% of respondents reported that they all the time confirm the information and data they eat, whereas 32% said that they accomplish that regularly. This implies a robust tradition of media vigilance and fact-checking among the many public, notably in periods of heightened civic engagement.
What has modified between twenty fifth June 2024 and twenty fifth June 2025?
These surveyed have been requested to check the state of the nation following the protests of June 25, 2024, to these in 2025; 57% expressed the assumption that nothing had actually modified.
This sentiment displays a widespread notion of stagnation in governance, accountability, and socio-economic situations, regardless of the numerous nationwide and worldwide consideration that the 2024 protests acquired. The outcomes point out that for many Kenyans, the guarantees of reform and open dialogue made after final yr’s demonstrations haven’t led to any actual enhancements. This deep sense of disillusionment could also be fueling ongoing civic unrest and the persistent demand for systemic change.
57% mentioned nothing had actually modified between twenty fifth June 2024 and twenty fifth June 2025
Protests participation
The survey discovered that 60% of respondents participated within the protests on June 25, 2025, both by attending in individual or by supporting the motion on-line. In distinction, 40% selected not to participate. This demonstrates a notable stage of civic engagement and highlights the rising significance of each bodily protests and digital activism in shaping Kenya’s sociopolitical panorama.
Alarmingly, amongst those that protested in individual, 66% reported encountering incidents of looting, mugging, bodily assault, and even deadly violence. These findings level to the numerous dangers confronted by demonstrators and lift severe issues about security, police conduct, and the broader safety atmosphere surrounding public protests within the nation.
Private Results of the Protest
The protests had a variety of non-public results on Kenyans, as highlighted within the survey findings. Fifty-six % of respondents reported being unable to entry transportation, which considerably disrupted their mobility and day by day routines. Roughly 51% skilled heightened worry or nervousness, demonstrating the psychological toll of the unrest.
Moreover, 41% indicated that their companies have been disrupted, reflecting the financial influence of the demonstrations. The protests additionally disrupted schooling and employment, with 35% stating they have been unable to attend work or faculty. Whereas 14% of respondents mentioned they weren’t affected, a regarding 8% reported being injured or harassed, pointing to the bodily risks current through the protests. These figures underscore the far-reaching and multifaceted influence of the protests on particular person lives nationwide.
The Principal Causes for the Protests
In 2024, the Finance Invoice, financial hardship, and misgovernance dominated the dialog, with residents expressing outrage over inflated residing prices, unaccountable management, and a scarcity of job alternatives. In distinction, the 2025 survey reveals that political dissatisfaction has surpassed financial issues as the first cause for protest (31%), whereas the price of residing has decreased to 22% and corruption to simply 9%. Youth unemployment and taxation stay persistent points, however the information means that frustrations have advanced from particular grievances to broader disillusionment with the political system, indicating a deepening distrust in governance and a rising demand for structural change.
Affect of the Protests
When requested whether or not the June 25, 2025 protests would result in any influence, public opinion appeared divided. About 34% of respondents believed the protests would lead to some minor adjustments, reflecting cautious optimism about incremental progress. In the meantime, 25% felt that no adjustments would happen, underscoring skepticism in regards to the authorities’s willingness to reply meaningfully. Roughly 22% have been extra hopeful, anticipating vital adjustments because of the demonstrations. An extra 21% have been uncertain, indicating uncertainty in regards to the consequence of the protest. These responses counsel that whereas a phase of the inhabitants holds onto hope for reform, a considerable portion stays uncertain or unconvinced of any lasting influence.
Views on the federal government
Primarily based on the findings, public belief within the authorities to deal with the issues raised through the protests is notably low. A mixed 63% of respondents indicated minimal confidence, 38% mentioned they belief the federal government “little or no,” and 26% mentioned “by no means.” Solely 24% expressed a average stage of belief by deciding on “considerably,” whereas simply 14% reported having “very a lot” belief.
71% of respondents indicated that their voice just isn’t being heard by the federal government. Solely 11% felt that their issues are being acknowledged, whereas 18% have been uncertain. As well as, the overwhelming majority of respondents, 79% consider that the federal government just isn’t addressing the wants of the youth. Solely 8% felt that youth issues are being taken into consideration, whereas 12% have been uncertain.
Greatest Considerations
Much like final yr, the highest three issues amongst Kenyans have remained largely constant, with unemployment (89%), corruption (84%), and the price of residing (82%) persevering with to dominate public nervousness. In 2025, these points nonetheless high the record, although in barely completely different order with unemployment (85%) remaining probably the most cited concern, adopted intently by the price of residing (84%) and corruption (82%). Notably, concern for , whereas schooling (19%) and safety (28%) have shifted barely, suggesting evolving priorities however a continued give attention to socio-economic and governance-related challenges.
What should change for the protests to cease
We requested open-ended questions of these surveyed, inquiring about what should change for the protests to stop. The responses reveal that the highest demand for ending protests is management change, cited by 42% of contributors. That is adopted by requires youth empowerment and employment (13%) and tackling corruption (12%). Different key calls for embrace financial reform, ending abductions and killings, and higher public inclusion in decision-making. This reveals a robust want amongst residents for transformative political and governance reforms as a way to revive public belief and stability.
The highest demand for ending protests is management change , cited by 42% of contributors.
Methodology/About this Survey
This Unique Survey was performed through the GeoPoll cellular software on June 26, 2025, in Kenya. The pattern measurement consisted of 915 randomly chosen GeoPoll customers aged 18 and above. Because the survey was randomly distributed and performed on-line, the outcomes are barely skewed towards youthful respondents.
Nonetheless, this demographic tilt aligns nicely with the character of the June 25, 2025 protests, which have been predominantly youth-led, making the findings particularly consultant of the core contributors and voices behind the demonstrations.
GeoPoll is dedicated to empowering youth by supporting organizations, policymakers, and governments in addressing future challenges younger individuals face. Collectively, we will leverage information to drive focused interventions, improve youth well-being, and construct extra resilient methods for the longer term. Our mobile-based surveys present a strong and confirmed methodology for capturing insights on youth views, behaviors, and public perceptions, notably in under-resourced areas.
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