Discrimination In Kenya To Increase In 2025: Survey
According to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, the fear of being discriminated against as well as being subjected to racism and prejudice has surged to an all-time high
Marvin Chege 
The pervasive nature of discrimination across various sectors of society in Kenya has been a menace, and in 2025, this problem is likely to grow if a new report is anything to go by.
According to the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer, the fear of being discriminated against as well as being subjected to racism and prejudice has surged to an all-time high, with Kenya only sharing the top spot in all of Africa with South Africa but third globally out of 28 countries in which the comprehensive survey was conducted.
Kenya in 2025 scored 77 percent, a significant increase of 8 points from 2024, level on points with South Africa with the same level of increase. The two countries stood above Nigeria which scored 75 percent this year but with a significant increase of 9 points from 2024.
Only Indonesia and Malaysia did better than the African nations with scores of 77 per cent and 78 percent respectively, though Indonesia had the most significant increase out of all the countries with a 23-point increase from 2024.
Kenyan women during protests against femicide. /AL JAZEERA
Kenya’s youth face discrimination in employment, education, and political representation, exacerbating socio-economic inequalities and limiting access to opportunities. Amnesty Kenya's Discrimination Index of 2024 paints a picture of how much of a menace this is; discriminatory hiring practices within the public service, with only 28 percent of counties complying with diversity requirements as per the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
Moreover, restrictions on personal expression, such as dress codes imposed by educational institutions, infringe upon youth’s freedom of expression and identity. Identity-based discrimination continues to thrive, with alarming reports indicating that at least 133 individuals have faced discrimination based on their pregnancy and health statuses by the Kenya Revenue Authority, a government agency.
"Such discriminatory practices not only violate constitutional and statutory provisions but also perpetuate systemic inequalities and deny individuals their fundamental rights," stated Amnesty Kenya on March 28, 2024.
Also highlighted were pervasive discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Kenya, fueled by societal stigma and legal prohibitions against same-sex relations. Shockingly, reported cases of physical assault resulting in grievous bodily harm highlight the growing normalization of violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
Despite efforts to combat discrimination, social media platforms continue to serve as breeding grounds for perpetuating harmful stereotypes and prejudices based on gender, sex, and social and economic status. Such online platforms amplify discrimination and exacerbate societal divisions, underscoring the need for concerted action to promote responsible online behaviour and combat online hate speech.
Meanwhile, in the Barometer report, women were more likely to face discrimination, as well as prejudice and racism, than men, at 65 percent and 62 percent respectively, an increase of 10 points and 11 points from 2024. Those aged 18-34 were more likely to face discrimination than any other age group at 68 percent followed by the age bracket 35-54 at 64 percent and 57 percent for those aged above 55 years old.
Furthermore, only 36 percent say the next generation would be better off, with less than 1 in 5 coming from developed countries and 53 percent emanating from Kenya.
Additionally, 4 in 10 (40 percent) see hostile activism as a viable means to drive change and over 1 in 2 young adults, majority aged 18-34, approving of hostile activism. "Attack people online (27%), Intentionally spread disinformation (25%), Threaten or commit violence (23%) and Damage public or private property (23%)," reads the report in part.
67 percent of respondents accused the wealthy of not paying their fair share of taxes while 65 percent say the wealthy's selfishnesss cause "many of our problems".
Furthermore, 77 percent of Kenyans trust their employer to do what is right, but this is a decline of 5 percent from 2024, an indication of employees in the country losing faith in their employers amidst tough economic conditions.
