A majority of Kenya Kwanza supporters do not know the running mate picked by Deputy President William Ruto, Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua.
In an opinion poll released by TIFA on Wednesday, May 18, 90 per cent of Azimio la Umoja presidential flag-bearer Raila Odinga supporters could identify NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua as opposed to Ruto's supporters whereby only 69 per cent could correctly identify the Mathira Member of Parliament.
Generally, 85 percent of Kenyans could pinpoint Karua to be Raila's deputy while only 59 percent could correctly name Gachagua to be Ruto's second-in-command.
In the case of Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who recently ditched Azimio, only 38 percent identified Andrew Sunkuli to be his running mate.
Further, more Kenyans expressed support for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance ( 38 percent) than the Kenya Kwanza coalition (28 per cent). 31 per cent of Kenyans are yet to make up their mind on the choice of coalition with only 82 days to the General Election.
"While nearly all Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) supporters support the Azimio coalition (96 percent), rather fewer supporters of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) support the Kenya Kwanza Alliance (85 percent)."
The poll also showed that the Raila-Karua ticket is gaining ground as the pair is leading with 39 per cent following while the Ruto-Gachagua formation follows closely with 35 percent.
The Kalonzo-Sunkuli pair have only garnered two per cent since the Wiper party leader's announcement of his candidature.
Currently, Raila and Karua ticket are leading in Nyanza, Coast, Lower Eastern, Nairobi and Western region while Ruto and Rigathi have enjoyed favourable support in the Central Rift, Mount Kenya, Northern and South Rift regions.
The survey, which was conducted between Sunday, May 15 and Monday, May 16, sought to analyse how extensive is the public knowledge of the identity of the running mates as well as how the new developments have impacted the presidential contest.
The poll findings came out a few hours after Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki stated that he had beat Rigathi Gachagua on all the agreed processes although the DP ultimately chose Gachagua for personal reasons that the Senator admitted were unknown to him and those who participated in the running mate selection.
