NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 20 – Nearly two-thirds of Kenyan households (62 per cent) expect to be unable to pay at least one of their current loans or bills in full over the next quarter, according to TransUnion Kenya’s Q2 2025 Consumer Pulse Study.
The survey shows that 48 per cent of respondents plan to take on temporary or gig work, 34 per cent intend to dip into their savings, and 30 per cent expect to borrow from friends or family to cope with mounting financial pressures.
To cushion themselves from economic shocks, 34% of households have started a new business, 18 per cent secured a new job, and 20 per cent reported an income increase over the past month.
This resilience has enabled 40 per cent of households to pay down debt faster, while 46 per cent have grown their emergency savings — a five-percentage-point rise compared to the same period last year.
“By delaying big-ticket purchases and managing debt effectively, consumers are signalling mature credit behaviour, which is likely to support future economic growth,” said Morris Maina, CEO of TransUnion Kenya.
Inflation remains the top concern for 76 per cent of respondents, followed by job security (60 per cent) and housing affordability (55 per cent).
In response, 61 per cent of households reduced discretionary spending on dining, travel, and entertainment in the past three months, while 55 per cent expect to continue cutting such expenses in the next quarter.
The report also highlights fraud as a growing concern, with 70 per cent of Kenyans reporting attempted scams via online platforms, phone calls, emails, or text messages in Q2 2025 — although most attempts were unsuccessful.
Middle-income earners (earning between Sh300,000 and Sh1.4 million annually) were the most targeted, at 77 per cent.
Common scams included vishing (46 per cent), money or gift card scams (45 per cent), phishing (40 per cent), smishing (39 per cent), and third-party seller scams (36 per cent).
