Raila Odinga’s death most significant event of 2025 -Infotrak survey

By Newsflash Reporter

The passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, popularly known as Baba, was the defining moment of 2025, according to a new Infotrak survey released on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

The survey, which examined public perceptions of the year’s most influential events, found that 30 per cent of Kenyans cited his death as the most significant occurrence of the year.

Raila’s death has left a deep mark across political, social, and cultural spheres in Kenya, reflecting his decades-long influence in shaping the country’s political landscape. The survey highlights that his passing overshadowed other major issues, including the rising cost of living (11%), Gen Z protests (12%), and ongoing concerns with politics and governance (8%). Other events such as abductions and killings (6%) and financial hardship (6%) ranked lower in overall significance.

Demographic perspectives

The survey also revealed stark gender differences in perceptions of the year’s key events. Men were more likely to consider Raila’s death significant, with 37 per cent citing it compared to 24 per cent of women. Women, in contrast, showed greater concern for Gen Z protests (17%), financial hardship (7%), and personal and family matters (6%). Politics and governance resonated more with men (10%) than women (5%), reflecting differing priorities between genders.

Age also played a defining role in the perception of events. Young adults aged 18–26 were particularly impacted by Raila’s death (32%) and Gen Z protests (13%), highlighting their political awareness and engagement in social movements. Middle-aged adults (27–35 and 36–45) showed consistent concern for Raila’s death (32% and 30%) and the cost of living (9–11%), indicating a balance between political engagement and economic anxieties. Older adults (46–55 and 55+) were more likely to cite politics and governance (17% for 46–55) and financial hardship (10% for 55+), reflecting a heightened focus on stability and economic security.

Other notable trends

While Raila’s death dominated the public consciousness, several secondary issues continued to resonate across demographics. Cost of living and financial hardship remained consistently important, emphasizing the ongoing economic pressures facing Kenyan households. Employment issues showed a slight spike among young adults (9%), underlining the challenges of job insecurity for the country’s youth.

Other matters such as affordable housing, agriculture initiatives (including free fertilizer), crime and insecurity, the deaths of other leaders, health policy, and taxation generally registered below 5% in significance across both genders and all age groups.

This suggests that, while important, these issues were secondary to the broader political and economic events of the year.

The survey underscores that the death of Raila Odinga was the single most significant event of 2025, cutting across regions, genders, and age groups.

Youth and women were particularly attentive to protests and social movements, whereas older adults prioritized governance, stability, and financial matters. Economic pressures such as the rising cost of living and financial hardship remain persistent concerns, though they were eclipsed by major political developments.