Event report
Webinar: The Consumer Under Pressure: Inflation, Purchasing Power and Pricing in Kenya’s Pre-Election Economy
Is rising consumer spend a sign of confidence, or just inflation in disguise?
These were some of the questions explored during this morning's webinar, Inflation, Purchasing Power and Pricing in Kenya’s Pre-Election Economy, hosted in partnership with our Gold Member, Ipsos.
Led by Ṣóyínká Witness, Director of Ipsos Strategy3 Sub-Saharan Africa, the session unpacked the practical realities of shifting consumer dynamics and why businesses must rethink their pricing and value propositions in today's economic climate.
Among the key insights shared:
Cost of living remains the primary worry. 82% of households rank the cost of living as their main concern, far outpacing education (31%) and healthcare (29%).
Consumers are actively optimizing their daily spend. 90% of consumers have changed their buying habits, switching from long-term budgeting to managing cash flow on a daily, transaction-by-transaction basis.
The pack-size paradox is reshaping retail. Consumers are shifting from bulk purchases to smaller product packs, willingly paying a higher cost per unit just to spend less total cash at the register today.
Higher spending does not equal consumer optimism. Although 59% expect to spend more, this is driven by the inflated cost of essentials (food, fuel, rent) rather than confidence.
Economic pressure beats election worry. While concern over political unrest rose slightly (from 11.9% to 14.6%), household economic survival remains the dominant consumer priority heading into the election cycle.
A sincere thank you to Ṣóyínká Witness for sharing his expertise, and to the entire Ipsos team for partnering with us to deliver such a valuable session. Thank you as well to everyone who joined us and contributed to the lively Q&A.
We look forward to continuing to bring our members practical and expert-led conversations that help businesses stay informed and future-ready.
