New poll shows Raila Odinga’s ODM less popular

ODM leader Raila Odinga (left) with the party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna during the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) retreat in Nakuru last week. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

At least a third of Kenyans feel the opposition movement is ‘dead’ and has slackened in its responsibility of checking the Government, a new poll by Infotrak has shown.

The poll also showed a dwindling allegiance to political parties affiliated to the opposition movement.

For example, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which is perceived to be the main opposition party, is less popular by half compared to the ruling party Jubilee.

And even if all the opposition parties’ popularity percentages are added, they just accumulate to a paltry 26 per cent, which is still less compared to Jubilee’s 40 per cent popularity.

Both Amani National Congress led by Musalia Mudavadi and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula’s Ford Kenya have a popularity of one per cent each.

Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Democratic Movement popularity stands at three per cent.

Some 31 per cent of Kenyans have the opinion that Kenya no longer has an opposition movement.

“The feeling is that the (government) watchdog is asleep and not doing any job. And we can see this also on party popularity, with ODM only managing 21 per cent and there were times they were at 50 per cent,” said Infotrak CEO Angela Ambitho.

Coast region leads with 56 per cent among those who feel the opposition is not doing its job, while Western, with 27 per cent, leads among those who feel the opposition is still at work.

Central, Rift Valley and Nairobi, each with 34 per cent, feel the country no longer has an opposition movement.