ODM roots for enforcement of opinion poll law

ODM acting Secretary General Senator Agnes Zani

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is now calling for enforcement of Publication of Electoral Opinion Polls Act, 2012.

This comes a day after controversy sparked by the latest opinion poll results done by Ipsos Synovate that put President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Wednesday, ODM’s acting Secretary General Senator Agnes Zani poured cold water on the credibility of the survey, saying pollsters must be seen to be objective and scientific.

Zani said the pollster might have deliberately sampled more Jubilee supporters than those of CORD.

And now ODM is considering the option of amending the law to put rogue pollsters on the spot as the country heads to another General Election.

Zani poked holes in the latest Ipsos opinion survey. She also faulted media houses for interpreting the opinion poll results in a skewed manner to suit the interests of CORD’s rivals.

Institute of Education in Democracy (IED) Executive Director Brian Weke said the Kriegler Commission that was established to determine the main causes of the 2007/8 post-election violence pointed out that electoral opinion polls results contributed to the violence.

The law was enacted to address technical key issues which determine views as to the accuracy of the results, which include issues pertaining to sample size, representation and the interpretation of data.

Skewed poll

And lead researcher with Ipsos Synovate, Dr Tom Wolf, has dismissed CORD’s claims that he was working for Jubilee.

“I am not working for Jubilee,” declared Wolf even as nominated MP Dr Oburu Odinga claimed his opinion polls were skewed in favour of the ruling coalition. “You can’t keep on asking people one question all the time and in one region, the answer will be obvious,” said Oburu.

But Wolf retorted: “I do think CORD would look stronger if they were less hostile or paranoid.”

ODM national chairman John Mbadi led a section of the party’s MPs in demanding Wolf be investigated over his recent opinion polls.

The leaders, who included Homa bay Women Representative Gladys Wanga and Senator Moses Kajwang’, accused Wolf of misleading local and the international community over the Kenya’s political scenario.

Speaking at Sindo Girls Secondary School in Suba during a girls’ mentorship programme, the leaders rubbished Ipsos Synovate’s latest opinion.

-Story by Rawlings Otieno, Kepher Otieno and Scophine Otieno