An opinion poll by TIFA has shown that Uhuru Kenyatta’s Mt Kenya region as well as Jubillee supporters will not vote yes if a referendum is held now.
The research that was conducted before the onset of the BBI appeal case showed that not only the judiciary is opposed to the constitution amendment, but also a huge number of Kenyans.
According to the TIFA research, BBI would only pass in Nyanza if the referendum was held today. The same cannot be said of Central Kenya and othr regions in the country.
In Raila’s political bastion of Nyanza, 28% of those polled wil vote yes against 22 who will vote against the referundum should it be held today.
In Eastern and Central Kenya, where it is believed Uhuru and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka are influential political figures, 31% of those polled in each of those regions will vote against the referendum while 16% (Eastern) and 13% in (Central) will vote yes.
Surprisingly, in Central Kenya, 22% said they will not vote while 21% of those polled in Easter (Kalonzo Musyokas political bedrock) also said they will not participate in the vote.
It should be remembered Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, and Kalonzo Musyoka have been at the forefront pushing for the planned amendment to the 2010 Kenyan Constitution.
In William Ruto’s Rift valley backyard, majority of those polled (31%) will vote against the referendum being championed by Uhuru and Raila with only 17% saying they will vote for the changes to the 2010 constitution.
Overall, the findings show only 50% of Kenyans have made a decision on whether to vote yes or no for the BBI in the referendum.
The other 50% are unsure whether to vote for the 2010 constitutional amendment or not.
The TIFA findings of the opinion poll also established how supporters of Jubilee party, ODM, and UDA, a party associated with William Ruto, will vote and is as below;
59% of ODM members will vote yes
29% of Jubilee members will vote yes if referendum is held
9% of UDA members will endorse the BBI bill.
It was established that Raila Odinga’s supporters are more likely to vote for the bill because they believe that it will increase his chance to become the next president.
For others, it is increased budgetary allocations to Kenyans.
The few Kenyans from President Uhuru’s backyard who are supporting the bill believe that it will enable him to influence the election of the next president.
The findings from the opinion poll only prove that Murang’a Senator Irungu Kangata was accurate in his letter addressed to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In the letter dated December 30, 2020, the legislator told Uhuru that the BBI initiative was unpopular in Mt Kenya region after conducting his own survey.
“Out of every 10 persons I surveyed, six opposed it, two support it, and two others are indifferent. Your Excellency, I concede, I may be wrong. In fact, I wish I was wrong and that my views are merely pessimistic view of things. However, if I am right and we do not take urgent remedial measures, I will pin myself permanently in the pillar of spectacular shame,” read part of Kang’ata’s letter to Uhuru.
It is this letter that saw Irungu Kang’ata ousted as the Senate Majority leader.
