Kenyan businesses are bracing for another turbulent year after Gen Z–led demonstrations, with political instability and civil unrest eclipsing economic volatility as the main hazards for the coming 12 months, according to the World Security Report 2025 by Allied Universal and G4S.
Key Kenyan findings:
- Political instability as the biggest concern: 45%
- Civil unrest as the next major risk: 43%
- Direct impact from protests or demonstrations: 21% of firms
These figures exceed regional averages, and Kenya records the highest rate of anticipated disruption from protests in Sub-Saharan Africa.
On the economic front, optimism edges in as instability concerns ease to 41% (down from 52% last year), though fraud remains the leading external threat, cited by 41% of firms.
“Political and civil unrest can have an immediate and costly impact on businesses and investor confidence, and security leaders are bolstering physical security programs in response,” said Laurence Okelo, Managing Director of G4S Kenya.
The easing of economic instability offers some room for optimism, but firms must continue building resilience through security upgrades, workforce safety, and contingency planning.
Budget trends point to higher security spending, with 79% of Kenyan businesses signaling increased budgets—the region’s second-highest rate. Priorities include:
- Investment in new technology and infrastructure: 83%
- Risk assessments: 71%
- Regulatory compliance: 66%
The report covers 2,352 CSOs across 31 countries in medium and large global companies with total revenue above $25 trillion; 58 Kenyan CSOs participated, alongside 174 from Sub-Saharan Africa, and insights from 200 global institutional investors managing over $1 trillion in assets.
Economic losses linked to Gen Z protests are notable, especially in retail and hospitality, with 45% of Kenyan respondents reporting revenue losses due to security incidents.
Kenyan firms also face higher insurance costs relative to peers in the region. Institutional investors warn that a major security incident could reduce a listed company’s value by up to 32%.
“Fraud remains the dominant internal and external threat across the region, tied to economic instability, but there are regional opportunities as smart security infrastructure and AI-powered video surveillance investments grow,” said Christo Terblanche, regional president of G4S Africa.
