By Peter Orengo
A study conducted by the University of Nairobiâs Institute of Development Studies (IDS) shows that 42 per cent of Kenyans do not belong to any political party.
In the round five of its Afro-Barometer survey touching on political party affiliation, presidential candidate preference and the governments performance on security, The Institute of Development Studies (IDS) said over 42 per cent of Kenyans said they are not affiliated to any political party, with the majority coming from the urban centers.
The survey also reveals that 31 percent of Kenyans are yet to decide who they will vote for while 42 percent do not know their party of choice.
And on security, 53 per cent of Kenyans feel the current government is handling the crime reduction in the country very well, and an overwhelming 82 per cent support the work of the Kenya Defence Force work in Somalia against Al Shabab. Dr Adams Oloo of the University of Nairobiâs Institute of Development Studies during release of a survey that showed 42 per cent of Kenyans do not belong to any political party. Photo: Standard
The report was done by lead researchers of the Afro-Barometer Round 5 Kenya survey who included Professor Winnie Mitullah, Dr Adams Oloo, Dr Joshua Kivuva, Dr Paul Kamau and Mr Abel Oyuke.
The report was released amid frenzied re-organisation by local politicians in readiness for the impending general elections.
The survey which was conducted between November 4 and December 5, 2011 indicated that should elections be held tomorrow, ODM could garner 34 percent support followed by Party of National Unity (PNU) at 20 percent.
"These figures show that there is still a huge number of voters out there who are yet to make up their mind. This group maybe the swing vote that political candidates who want to win the next general elections have to convince to vote for them," said Adams Oloo when presenting the report at a Nairobi hotel.
Party loyalty
Going by counties, respondents from Busia, Homa Bay, Tharaka Nithi, Bungoma and Kisumu, were largely committed to a political party - each scoring over 80 per cent.
