MPs want law to regulate pollsters over 'bribed rankings'

MPs want a law put in place to regulate opinion polls in the country after some leaders accused Infotrak of demanding bribes to be ranked top in terms of performance.

National Assembly Majority Leader and Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya said the country needs a law that guides opinion polls.

"Much as it is affecting MPs there will be all manners of polls and if we don't guide the country we will plunge it into chaos," Kimunya said.

"I got a message from a pollster asking me to discuss the result and how to make them better. I have been a researcher and I know that this is influencing the results."

Kimini MP Chris Wamalwa said in any research, the methodology must be disclosed.

"I was not called and they rated me as the best. I never talked to them. This research did not meet the threshold," he said.

"We must put a regulatory law so that whoever does this, meets the threshold."

Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai said the ranking from Infotrak is unfair.

"I was called by a lady, who said  I need my constituency branded. I did not give them time. They are defaming us," he said.

Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba said a regulation needs to be put to place adding that "I called nobody and no one approached me."

Garissa Township MP Aden Duale said the polls are all about politics.

"I was nowhere in that ranking. I  must be the most useless man.  I looked at the list. By putting Dujis it means that the whole thing was fraudulent," he said.

"Their integrity is in question. Those who are number 1-20 should tell us how much they have paid."

Suba South MP John Mbadi said the parliamentarians should work hard to deny pollsters something to talk about.

"I plead with MPs. Work for your people through CDF, build schools, provide water, roads, legislate and they will give you another term. No one will look at the opinion polls," he said.

"As MPs, just ensure you deliver services to your constituents and forget about the Pollsters."

"I want to tell the opinion pollsters that not only am I a performer, I am also elegant," Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo said.

"I have worked hard. Some MP’s were asked for money to improve their ranking. Don’t use my name to try and get votes."

Odhiambo said that she is focused on gender equality.

Infotrak on Monday fought off extortion claims as MP cry foul over poll ranking. 

MPs accused Infotrak of using the rankings to make a kill from them, but Infotrak CEO Angela Ambitho dismissed the claims as untrue.

 Ambitho confirmed that officers reached out to MPs but denied that the mission was to have the results manipulated at a fee. 

“Indeed our people have reached out to various political leaders. Why? For two reasons, to make them aware that the data is there and to book appointments for them to actually interact with the data should there be an occasion where we release the data publicly they already knew what the data was,” Ambitho said.