•However, 24 per cent of the city respondents said they were still undecided or would not vote.
•Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka comes a distant third at two per cent of the voters while one per cent prefer ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO
ODM leader Raila Odinga is the most preferred presidential candidate in Busia and Nairobi while Deputy President William Ruto tops in Murang'a.
A survey by TIFA research shows 41 per cent of voters in Nairobi will choose Raila while 31 per cent would vote for Ruto if elections were held today.
However, 24 per cent of the city respondents said they were still undecided or would not vote.
Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka comes a distant third at two per cent of the voters while one per cent prefer ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi.
“Whilst Raila Odinga is the most popular presidential candidate in Nairobi, the gap between him and DP Ruto is small enough to suggest the level of contestation will be high,” lead researcher Tom Wolf said.
The survey was conducted between February 3-9 with 780 respondents-both male and female-from Nairobi's 17 constituencies.
It was conducted through telephone and household interviews and had a margin error of +/-3.5 per cent.
In Murang'a, 71 per cent of the voters said they were backing Ruto while Raila is supported by 16 per cent.
Governor Mwangi wa Iria, who has declared interest in the presidency, is supported by one per cent while nine per cent are still undecided.
“Whether Raila Odinga can close any or much of the gap between them in the remaining five months will be a major challenge, given the vote-rich Mt Kenya region of which Murang’a is part,” Wolf said.
The survey was conducted between March5-8 and it reached out to 400 voters-both male and female from seven constituencies.
It was conducted through household interviews and had a margin error of +/-4.7 per cent.
In Busia, three-quarters of respondents prefer Raila as the next president, with Ruto, attracting less than one-sixth of the ODM leader’s support.
Seventy-six per cent of the respondents back Raila while 12 per cent back Ruto.
Mudavadi, Kalonzo and Kanu’s Gideon Moi are supported by one per cent each with seven per cent being undecided.
“The popularity reflects that of Odinga’s political party and Azimio la Umoja formation,” Wolf said.
The survey said ODM and it's associated Azimio la Umoja as a coalition constitute the most popular political formations by far, equal to about two-thirds of all respondents (65 per cent) in Busia.
DAP-K and UDA are supported by 10 per cent and seven per cent respectively. Jubilee and ANC are supported by one per cent each.
The survey was conducted between March 2-7 and it reached out to 510 voters-both male and female from seven constituencies.
It was conducted through household interviews and had a margin error of +/-4.33 per cent.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris