Raila top, Uhuru surges in new poll

Prime Minister Raila Odinga's remains the candidate to beat in the presidential race according to a new opinion survey, which also placed him ahead of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta in a potential run-off election.

According to the poll, Mr Odinga would garner 53 per cent of the vote in a potential run-off against Mr Kenyatta's 47 per cent.

The ratings of both Mr Odinga and Mr Kenyatta also surged minimally according the survey released Monday by Infotrak.

Mr Odinga's popularity rose to 42 per cent while Mr Kenyatta polled at 22 per cent. Both candidates registered a four percent rise in their ratings.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka polled at 9 per cent, Martha Karua 5 per cent, Willam Ruto 5 per cent and Musalia Mudavadi 5 per cent.

Mr Odinga’s strongholds include Nyanza (81%), Coast (67%), Western (62%), North Eastern (61%) and Nairobi (50%).

Uhuru Kenyatta is the most popular presidential candidate in central province at 61% while Kalonzo Musyoka’s stronghold is Eastern province at 43%.

Rift Valley region seems to accommodate all presidential hopefuls with Raila Odinga, William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta being the main contenders at 37%, 26% and 21% respectively.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) remain the most popular political party at 54 per cent, Party of National Unity (PNU) second at 22 per cent and Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) third at 7 per cent.

ODM’s strongholds include: Nyanza (84%), Western (79%), Coast (70%) and North Eastern regions (59%).

The Party of National Unity is the most popular political party in central province at 50%.

Wiper Democratic Movement’s stronghold is Eastern province at 34%.

91 per cent of the respondents involved in the survey said they intend to vote in the next general elections.

Majority of those who indicated their intention to vote in the forthcoming general elections were mainly from 26 years to 45 years.

Lack of faith in political leadership (29%) coupled with lack of identity cards (28%) came out as the main reasons as to why seven percent of Kenyans do not intend to participate in the forthcoming general elections.