Munya leads Kiraitu in poll as ODM governors surge in two counties

With only 16 days to the General Election, a new opinion poll by Infotrak has projected that Governor Peter Munya would carry the day in the Meru gubernatorial race.

According to the opinion poll, Munya of the Party of National Unity (PNU) would win the race by 42.0 per cent closely followed by his arch-rival, Senator Kiraitu Murungi of Jubilee Party (JP) with 40.7 per cent.

The race becomes even tighter as the survey reveals of 6.8 per cent undecided voters. “It is a tight contest between the Munya and Kiraitu but again we have to understand that 6.8 per cent of voters are yet to make a decision. If you include the margin of error (2.7 per cent) it becomes a wait and see situation,” explained Infotrak researcher Mary Njoki. She added: “As per our findings, whoever manages to convince the 6.8 per cent will be the county’s next governor.”

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s advisor who decamped to Maendeleo Chap Chap Kilemi Mwiria is third with 5.4 per cent support.

Others are Independents Boniface Gatobu and Kiambi Atheru with 4.6 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively. Wiper’s Kaburu Winfred has 0.1 per cent support.

Woman Rep

For the Senatorial race, Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi leads with 54.4 per cent followed by Imanyara Mugambi of PNU with 20.6 per cent. However, 20.3 per cent undecided voters are up for grabs.

In the Woman Representative race, Independent candidate Kawira Mwanganza is closely trailing the incumbent Florence Kajuju, who has a 44.6 per cent support with a difference of just 3.4 per cent.

In the counties of Kajiado and Kisii, according to the findings, the Orange Democratic Movement remains a force. In Kajiado, incumbent Governor David ole Nkedianye leads with 52.7 per cent against former Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku of JP, who comes second with 41 per cent.

The fight between the two has recently escalated and last week, Lenku was endorsed by the area’s Kisii council of elders. “It has been said that Kisii community holds the swing vote. Let me state that the votes will swing to the advantage of JP and myself,” a confident Lenku claimed.

Incumbent’s Senator Philip Mpaayei (Mpayeye) has the support of 32.7 per cent; 11 per cent less compared to ODM’s Daniel Koilel.

But in the Women Representative race, if elections were held today, then the tables would turn in favour of JP with Janet Teiyaa Marania in the lead with 57 per cent against ODM’s Esther Samoire with 21.3 per cent.

The same scenario is replicated in Kisii County where Governor James Ongwae is seeking to retain his seat through the ODM ticket. He leads with 60.1 per cent against JP’s Christopher Obure who has 16.9 per cent but the county’s preference for the Women Representative seat is JP’s Dorice Aburi.

Aburi is way ahead of ODM’s Janet Ongera with 51.9 per cent against 29.4 per cent.

“This is a sign that despite the political differences, people are looking more into personalities and not parties,” said Infotrak’s Mary Njoki.

For the Kisii senatorial seat, Samson Ongeri of ODM leads with 36.9 per cent against Jubilee’s Charles Nyachae’s 33.1 per cent. The county has 6.8 per cent undecided voters.