Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua would be the best running mate for William Ruto and veteran politician Peter Kenneth would be the best running mate for Raila Odinga, according to the monthly Radio Africa opinion poll.
Gachagua was preferred for Ruto by 24.9 percent of respondents and Peter Kenneth for Raila by 27.3 percent.
Gachagua is a politician and businessman who was a former PA to President Uhuru Kenyatta before shifting his allegiance to Deputy President Ruto. Kenneth is a banker, former Gatanga MP, assistant Finance minister and presidential candidate in 2013.
The poll of 3,152 respondents was conducted by CATI (computer-aided telephone interview) between January 5 and 15. The margin of error is plus or minus 1.75 percent with a 95 percent confidence level. Age and education demographics were skewed to match the population breakdown. It was funded by Radio Africa Group.
The second-best potential running mate for Ruto was Martha Karua, picked by 16.4 percent of respondents; followed by Musalia Mudavadi with 10.3 percent; Kalonzo Musyoka on 7.2; Peter Kenneth 6.5; Alfred Mutua 4.5; Moses Kuria 4.1; and various others below that. Undecided respondents were 11.0 percent.
The second-best potential running mate for Raila was Kalonzo Musyoka picked by 13.2 percent of respondents; followed by Musalia Mudavadi with 12.1 percent; Martha Karua with 10.6 percent; Hassan Joho 4.9; Gideon Moi 4.3; Fred Matiang'i 3.7; and various others below that. Undecided respondents were 11 .4 percent.
According to the Radio Africa January poll, 46.1 percent of registered voters say they will vote for Ruto in the presidential election on August 9 while 35.1 percent say they will vote for Raila Odinga.
The 2022 presidential election result may well hinge on the vote in Central Kenya where presently Ruto has 59.8 percent support compared to 25.1 percent support for Raila.
It would therefore make sense for both potential presidential candidates to pick strong deputies from Central.
Gachagua was picked by 29.3 percent of respondents from Central as well as 30.0 percent from Coast, 31.6 percent from Nairobi, and 28.4 percent from South Rift.
However, Kalonzo and Mutua were stronger in Lower Eastern with 39.2 and 16.4 percent support, respectively. Mudavadi was stronger than Gachagua in Nyanza and Western with 21.8 and 32.3 percent support, respectively.
Kenneth had an impressive 39.7 percent support from Central with Karua in second place at 19.9 percent. Kenneth was also strong in Nairobi with 38.1 percent; North Eastern 35.9; South Rift 32.6; and Upper Eastern 37.9 percent.
The strongest potential deputy in Lower Eastern was Kalonzo Musyoka with 33.3 percent support and then Mutua with 22.2 per cent. Joho was strongest at the Coast with 21.9 and Mudavadi at Nyanza and Western with 21.6 percent and 28.8 percent, respectively.
In other questions, the poll found that 62.0 percent of respondents thought that Kenya needs a new generation of leaders and that only 25.3 percent still support the 'old dynasties'. Not surprisingly, support for the old guard was highest in Nyanza at 41.2 percent.
The high cost of living was the top problem cited by 77 percent of respondents, followed by unemployment mentioned by 58 percent; corruption 33 percent; poor healthcare 25 percent; and food insecurity 20 percent. This ranking was more or less the same across all regions and demographics.
(Edited by V. Graham)