Deputy President William Ruto has overtaken his bitter rival Raila Odinga in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region, according to a new opinion poll by Mizani Africa.
The survey, which was released on Friday, March 11, by the market dynamics research firm, revealed that Ruto is leading in all counties of the Mt Kenya region which is perceived to be President Uhuru’s political bedrock and a battleground for the two leading presidential candidates.
In terms of vote popularity by region, the poll indicates that Ruto scores 74.3 percent in the Mt Kenya region, 36.7 percent in Nairobi, and 29 percent in Coast.
For instance, Ruto has 68.9 percent support in Meru, 65.9 in Tharaka Nithi, 79.0 in Embu, and 77.1 percent in Nyandarau.
In Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Muranga, Ruto had 76.7, 88.1 and 73.9 percent respectively.
This is despite the fact that the Head of State has endorsed his handshake partner Raila Odinga as the best person to succeed him as he prepares to exit the active political arena in August.
However, the survey that was conducted between February 21 and March 5 2021 across 47 counties placed Odinga ahead of Ruto in Nairobi county and coastal counties.
Overall, the polls showed that Raila is leading in 26 counties whereas the deputy president was leading in 21 counties.
Despite the fact that Raila leads in more counties than Ruto, the deputy president would get more votes than the ODM leader in terms of the number of votes.
“According to the popularity rating, Raila has gained 0.4 places from the 44.7 percent vote which Raila/Kalonzo garnered in 2017, while Ruto has dropped 5.1 places, from the 54.3 percent that Uhuru/Ruto garnered in the same election,” Haron Kiriba, CEO of Mizani Africa said.
The pollster however revealed that none of the presidential front runners Raila Odinga and William Ruto would win the hotly contested seat in round one.
It showed that neither the deputy president nor the opposition chief would garner the required 50 percent plus 1 vote of the total number of votes, required by law.
