Poll: Kidero would retain seat if elections were held today

A majority of Nairobi County's illegible voters would re-elect Dr Evans Kidero as governor for the second term if elections were held today.

According to a survey, Nairobi CountyTrak Survey, by opinion poll research and consulting firm Infotrak released on Monday, 35.3 per cent of registered voters in Nairobi County said that they would vote for Dr Kidero, citing his experience and development record as the reasons for their belief in him.

The respondents also said that the governor’s good plan for Nairobi and his integrity, among other attributes, swayed their decision to cast their votes for him.

“Dr Kidero’s main attribute were his experience and development record. He has been a chief executive before and his incumbency gave him an edge as the respondents equated it to having an idea on how to run the county,” said Infotrak Director Ms Angela Ambitho told the Nation by phone on Tuesday.

TOP POSITION

The poll placed Governor Kidero at the top position in a crowded field of at least six governorship aspirants with 12.3 per cent ahead of his closest challenger for the capital’s gubernatorial seat, Nairobi Senator Mr Mike Sonko.

Ms Ambitho also said that Kidero performed better in lower income areas where real effects of devolution have been best felt, especially in informal settlements like Kibera, Mathare and Baba Dogo.

“He led in informal settlements where devolved functions like health care and education have been better felt. The respondents cited improved security brought by street lighting, better clinics and elementary, ECDE, education,” she said.

The poll, conducted between March 18 and 19, 2017 placed Mr Sonko, who was supported by 23 per cent of the voters in Nairobi, in second place.

Mr Sonko resonated well with all ethnic groups and his popularity cut across the general population. He was also cited for his development track record and good plans for Nairobi.

PETER KENNETH THIRD

Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth was placed third in the race. Mr Kenneth polled 20.2 per cent of the respondents interviewed said they would vote for Mr Kenneth due to his experience, development track record, integrity and humility.

Lawyer Miguna Miguna came in fourth at 1.2 per cent of the votes. Miguna had no experience or track record to endear him to the respondents but his good plans for Nairobi and integrity catapulted him above politicians like Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, Esther Passaris and Dennis Waweru.

Former Starehe MP Bishop Wanjiru got 0.9 per cent, Ms Passaris 0.8 per cent while Dagoretti South MP Mr Waweru came in last with 0.6 per cent.

In what could add a new twist to the governorship race was a whopping 18 per cent of voters who were undecided on who they would back if the elections were to be held on the day.

UNDECIDED VOTERS

Ms Ambitho said that the huge number of undecided voters were either waiting for endorsement from their parties or were waiting for the candidates to pick their running mates. She said the undecided respondents could tilt the race to favour any of the top three candidates.

“People are undecided because they are suffering from apathy. They feel that there are broken promises, elections do not translate to development or the politicians did not deliver their promises,” she said.

The survey sampled 800 respondents from all the 17 sub counties in Nairobi County guided by population proportionate to size and used computer assisted telephone interviews with the design having a margin of error of -/+3.5 at 95% degree of confidence.