Every election cycle, debate erupts about whether politicians are truly listening to the people or putting words in their mouths. What the people say no doubt varies regionally, but three recent national surveys (2024-2026) by PASGR, GeoPoll and Afrobarometer, shed light on their views on the economy and politics.
Kenyans have a strong drive for financial independence, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation. Youth have high hopes for personal growth and desire dignified work that offers purpose and security.
About half (49 percent) of Kenyan youth aspire to become entrepreneurs to achieve financial independence. A great majority (87 percent) show interest in starting their own businesses (39 percent as side-hustles).
Viewing land ownership as a long-term wealth strategy, they are increasingly entering the property market. Retail trade is the top desired sector for entrepreneurship (33 percent), followed by agriculture (27 percent) and technology (21 percent).
Youth define success as financial security, personal growth, and work that matches their skills. Ranking second globally in financial audacity, they take risks on investments to gain financial stability. The digital space provides new income avenues, such as content creation and online sales.
On core values, 85 percent of Kenyans put faith first, followed by family (60 percent), and work (45 percent). Most young people identify as Kenyan first, before their faith or tribe, indicating a shift toward stronger national social cohesion. They demand government accountability and desire structural changes to address unemployment and the high cost of living.
Turning to politics, Kenyans, especially youth, desire a fundamental shift in how political parties operate.
The March 2025 Afrobarometer survey revealed that while most still value the multi-party system, there is disillusionment with the current parties, perceived as election vehicles rather than ideological institutions.
Kenyans want parties to move away from being centred on individual politicians and instead focus on clear, distinct ideologies. Most (77 percent) believe multiple parties are essential for real economic policy choices. They demand internal democracy and transparent nomination systems to prevent aspirants from being shortchanged by party leaders.
Fewer Kenyans (47 percent) feel close to any specific political party today compared to 64 percent, a decade ago. Correspondingly, the proportion that is not close to any party has risen from 32 to 52 percent.
It is easy to see why citizens are disillusioned with parties.
Our Constitution commits us to nurturing and protecting the well-being of the individual, the family, communities and the nation, and recognises the aspirations of all Kenyans for a government based on the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy, social justice and the rule of law.
All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya and must be exercised in accordance with the Constitution. The people may exercise their sovereign power either directly or indirectly, through their democratically elected representatives at both national and county levels.
It ‘is delegated to Parliament and the legislative assemblies in the county governments; the national executive and the executive structures in the county governments; and the Judiciary and independent tribunals.’
The Constitution expects that those representatives are elected based on a platform. Citizens chose the platform with the best ideas to assuage their fears, solve their problems, or deliver on their aspirations.
That is why the manifesto of the president-elect or governor-elect becomes the official government policy, and the civil service is obligated to implement it until the next elections.
If a candidate presents a manifesto of convenience, to simply get votes, or seeks to persuade us to elect her based on tribe or region, we should reject them, because they are presenting us with a false choice. We must seek leaders of conviction, leaders who will stand by their ideas on the best ways to solve our problems and reach our aspirations.
It helps our choice if those ideas are organised into a coherent set of well-researched and costed policies. That is where political parties come in. They are the organisations in which policy research and costing should happen. That is why they are partly funded from our taxes!
Sadly, however, our lived reality is that political parties come and go.
Since I became a voter, many parties have become popular, only to fade in the next election. During that time, in parties, government or NGOs, I have worked for an educated, prosperous, secure and socially cohesive Laikipia.
I have, therefore, championed education for skills, peace, kilimo biashara and a better business environment for job and wealth creation.