A survey has found that Hassan Joho is
the most popular politician at the Coast and the most preferred candidate for Mombasa county chief.
On popularity, the study by Trends and Insights for Africa
(TIFA) found that the Governor commands
a 68 per cent following and that Tourism CS Najib Balala and governor aspirant Suleiman Shahbal follow at nine per cent each.
Then came Senator Hassan Omar (six per cent) and Nyali MP
Hezron Awiti(two per cent). Five per cent of those interviewed were undecided.
Joho also got a 68 per cent rating as the most preferred candidate for governor.
Shahbal, who is Jubilee's candidate, followed with a 15 per cent rating and then came
Omar at seven per cent.
Awiti followed at three per cent while others who have
declared their bids got a one per cent rating.
Another seven per cent of those interviewed were undecided.
Campaigns ahead of the August 8 general election have seen Shahbal tear into Joho.
During preparations for Jubilee's rally at Tononoka grounds on March 11, Shahbal said residents were tired of "politics of dancing and insulting national leaders".
He said the meeting would be the beginning of the change the county has been waiting for and its "full liberation".
Also read:
The study also
revealed that
a majority of residents did not support President Uhuru Kenyatta's move to bar Joho from attending the Mtongwe ferry relaunch.
Among those polled, 71 per cent did not support Uhuru's action while 19 per cent said the President was right.
In terms of party affiliation, 84 per cent Nasa supporters and
33 per cent of Jubilee's
did not agree with the action.
Only seven per cent Nasa supporters agreed with Uhuru's decision alongside 54 per cent of Jubilee supporters.
Joho was stopped by GSU and Flying Squad officers at Nyali bridge while on his way to the launch. He claimed he was also placed under office
arrest until the end of the function.
Uhuru and Joho have been embroiled in a tussle over development projects in the region, the latest episode being that of the relaunch on
March 13.
Their exchange culminated into the President
asking Joho to stop following him as though he were
his wife.
Also see:
The research further found that a majority of Mombasa residents (66 per cent) felt closest to the
National Super Alliance
whose co-principals are Raila Odinga (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya) and Musalia Mudavadi (Amani National Congress).
Twenty three per cent said they were aligned to Jubilee while
10 per cent are undecided.
According to the poll, 57 per cent of Mombasa voters were undecided on who to elect as Senator.
The seat is currently held by Omar who is bidding for governor.
The incumbent, who will vie on a Wiper ticket, got a 13 per cent rating and was followed by Jubilee's Abdusalaam Kaasim at 12 per cent. Then came
Mohammed Abbas (ODM) at seven per cent.
For the woman
representative post,
the residents rated current MP Mishi Mboko at 44 per cent while
36 per cent said they were undecided.
Asha Hussein Mohamed
was rated at five per cent while Millicent Adhiambo and Deputy governor Hazel Katana each got ratings of four per cent each.
Katanarecently defected to Jubilee citing frustration in Joho's administration.
Sahra Nyamvula
and Zamzam Mohamed got ratings of two
per cent each.
Read:
The study was carried out from March 16 to 18 and involved
550 respondents aged 18 and above.