Poll: Raila in the lead as Uhuru closes in

By Steve Mkawale

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta would beat Prime Minister Raila Odinga by a slim margin if a run off presidential election were to be held today, a new opinion poll indicates.

According to results of the survey conducted by Ipsos-Synovate between October 15^th-23^rd there would be no outright winner in the first round of presidential elections.

Although Raila remained the most popular presidential candidate with 34 per cent of Kenyans indicating that they would vote for him, the study found out that a run off between the two would be contentious.

Ipsos-Synovate Managing Director, Maggie Ireri. According to a survey conducted between October 15 and 23 by the firm, there would be no outright winner in the first round of presidential elections[Photo/Standard]

“Slightly more Kenyans (44 per cent) would vote for Uhuru and 41 per cent would vote for Raila in a run off,” read the results of the poll released on Friday by Ipsos-Synovate Managing Director, Maggie Ireri.

The new constitution stipulates that a candidate shall be declared president if he/she receives more that half (over 50 per cent plus one) of all votes cast in an election.

It also requires that a presidential candidate garner 25 per cent of votes in each of the 47 counties.

But the results of the survey released by the research firm indicated the probability of a run off.

None of the eight presidential candidates who were sampled during the opinion poll that targeted 2, 000 respondents was able to garner 50 per cent plus of votes cast.

The poll indicated that 24 per cent of respondents would vote for Uhuru. Eldoret North MP William Ruto would get 10 per cent of the votes.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka will get nine per cent, Gichugu MP Martha Karua five percent and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa two per cent.