A poll released by research firm Trends and Insights Africa -TIFA, shows Murang'a Senator, Irungu Kang'ata, is the favorite to succeed Mwangi Wa Iria in the August 9 polls.
In the poll released on Thursday, July 14, and covering Murang'a, Trans Nzoia, Kisii, Nyamira, and Isiolo counties, seasoned politicians including former Kigumo Member of Parliament, Jamleck Kamau, and his Kiminini counterpart, Chris Wamalwa, are struggling in their gubernatorial contests.
Murang'a County
In Murang'a, Kang'ata of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has a popularity score of 58 percent against 13 percent of Jamleck Kamau.
Former Water Principal Secretary, Wairagu Wa Maai, comes in third with a 5 percent approval rating while former Transport PS, Irungu Nyakera, is fourth with a 3 percent approval rating.
Deputy President William Ruto's UDA is the most popular party in the county with an approval rating of 57 percent and is followed by Jubilee with a rating of 11 percent.
The polls were conducted between June 25 and 26 with a sample size of 407 respondents.
Kisii County
The contest to succeed governor James Ongwae is between Dagoretti North Member of Parliament, Simba Arati, of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and his Nyaribari Masaba counterpart, Ezekiel Machogu, of UDA.
Arati is leading the race with an overwhelming 66 percent while Machogu has an approval rating of 11 percent. Chris Obure comes in third with 3 percent while outgoing Senator, Sam Ongeri, has a 2 percent approval rating.
The results also show that ODM is the dominant party with a preferred rate of 47 percent.
Nyamira County
In Nyamira, incumbent governor, Amos Nyaribo, is leading the race with 36 percent, followed by Walter Osebe with 19 percent. Timothy Bosire comes in the third position with 11 percent while Mwanchama Okioma has a 1 percent approval rating.
Nyaribo took over the reins of power in the South Nyanza county in 2021 after the death of the pioneering governor, James Nyagarama. He is contesting on a United Progressive Party after ditching Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC).
Trans Nzoia County
The contest in the Trans Nzoia gubernatorial race is between Kiminini MP, Chris Wamalwa, of Ford Kenya, and former Rift Valley Regional Coordinator, George Natemebeya, of DAP - Kenya. Natembeya is leading with 56 percent against Wamalwa's 21 percent.
Isiolo County
Isiolo has been classified as a swing vote with neither Azimio la Umoja nor Kenya Kwanza showing any signs of dominance.
The gubernatorial contest is pitting Godana Doyo, an independent candidate, against Nairobi County Assembly Majority Leader, Abdi Guyo of Jubilee Party, and former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) CEO, Halakhe Waqo.
Doyo is leading with 45 percent while Guyo of Jubilee comes in second with a 4 percent approval rating.
