Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto of the UDA party are locked in a tight race for the country’s presidential race pointing to a possibility of a presidential run-off.
On Wednesday, August 10, updates by mainstream media houses placed William Ruto in the early lead at roughly 52 percent with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga coming in second at 47 percent.
However, as of Thursday, August 11, Raila had overtaken Ruto and was at 51 percent while the second in command was placed at 48 percent.
This saw a section of political analysts tell Kenyans to prepare for a presidential run-off as none of the 2022 presidential election front runners Raila Odinga and William Ruto would win in round one.
To win the elections in round one, the candidate would need to secure more than 50 percent of the total votes cast, and at least 25 percent of votes from 24 of Kenya’s 47 counties.
If there is no outright winner, a run-off election would be held in 30 days.
But in an interview with NTV on Wednesday, August 10, Ipsos Synovate boss Tom Wolf said that chances of having a presidential run-off were very minimal.
Wolf said there would only be a run-off if Roots Party presidential candidate George Wajackoyah and David Waihiga of the Agano party have scooped at least 2 percent of the total votes cast.
“I think I was correct when I said a couple of weeks ago that it will take at least two percent of the other two candidates combined to force a run-off… I would say in this election that the chances of a run-off are about one in 50. I think it is very very small,” Wolf said.
