Nairobi, Kenya – In a striking shift in public sentiment, a new nationwide survey has revealed that state repression and violence have overtaken economic hardship as the primary source of fear and concern among Kenyans, following the government’s deadly crackdown on recent anti-government protests.

The poll, conducted by Odipo Dev, a Nairobi-based research and advisory firm, found that 52% of respondents cited injustice as their top concern, followed by abductions (44%) and fear of the police (38%). In comparison, 42% still listed economic hardship—a traditionally dominant issue—as a major source of anxiety.

This marks a seismic shift in national mood, driven by the state’s response to widespread demonstrations in June and July 2025, which resulted in at least 47 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The protests, which erupted in response to economic grievances and controversial government policies, have since morphed into a broader movement for civil liberties and political accountability.

The survey, conducted among 1,038 participants across 20 protest-affected counties, presents one of the most comprehensive portraits yet of a country gripped by fear and disillusionment. Notably, 76% of respondents said they no longer feel safe expressing political views online, while 64% reported feeling more afraid to attend protests now than they did a year ago, in June 2024.

Social media analysis accompanying the poll revealed a sharp rise in the use of keywords and hashtags related to abductions, enforced disappearances, and police brutality, indicating that digital discourse is both mirroring and amplifying real-world anxieties.

“This data paints a chilling picture of a nation in distress,” said one of the researchers involved in the study. “People are no longer just worried about the cost of living—they are afraid for their lives, their rights, and their freedom to speak.”

Human rights organizations and civil society leaders say the findings underscore the urgent need for transparent investigations into the deaths, injuries, and alleged abductions linked to the protests, as well as broader reform of Kenya’s security and intelligence services.

The Kenyan government has yet to respond formally to the survey, though officials have previously denied widespread wrongdoing and defended police actions as necessary to maintain order during what they characterized as unlawful demonstrations.

Political analysts warn that the shift in public focus—from economics to personal security and state accountability—may signal a deeper legitimacy crisis for the Ruto administration. With public trust in institutions visibly eroding, and fear rapidly replacing frustration as the dominant national mood, Kenya appears to be entering a precarious new phase in its democratic journey.