Prime Minister Raila Odinga is still the most preferred presidential candidate and Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta the best choice of running mate, a survey shows.
The synovate poll, released on Friday, gives Mr Odinga a 47 per cent approval rating as a potential presidential candidate, while an Odinga – Kenyatta combination is given a thumbs up by 29pc of Kenyans.
Twenty two percent of those polled supported Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi as the PM’s running mate in the 2012 General Election. Mr Mudavadi is also Mr Odinga’s deputy in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
A further 18 per cent said they preferred Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka as the PM’s potential deputy in a post- 2012 scenario.
Higher Education minister William Ruto (8pc) and Gichugu MP Martha Karua (5pc) are the other potential running mates for Mr Odinga.
Mr Odinga and Mr Ruto, both of ODM, fell apart over the controversial Mau resettlement programme early this year, which was led by the former, and their differences culminated in leading opposing camps during the referendum campaigns.
Mr Karua quit government as Justice minister and has declared her intention to contest the presidency in the next elections.
The new Constitution requires candidates who offer themselves for the presidency in 2012 to identify a running mate.
Article 148 (1) says: Each candidate in a presidential election shall nominate a person who is qualified for nomination for election as President, as a candidate for Deputy President.
If Mr Musyoka was to stand for election as president, according to the poll, Mr Kenyatta is his most preferred deputy (45pc) followed by Mr Ruto (16pc) and Mr Odinga (11pc) respectively.
Mr Kenyatta supporters for the presidency indicated that they prefer Mr Musyoka as his running mate with a 39pc rating, while 19pc said they preferred Mr Ruto. Only 11pc said they wanted Mr Odinga to be the Mwingi North MP’s second in command.
The poll, which was conducted between September 16-20 and targeting 1,501 Kenyans, showed that if Mr Ruto was to go for the top seat, Mr Kenyatta (42pc) and Mr Musyoka (30pc) were his most preferred running mates. A paltry nine per cent said they support PM Odinga as Mr Ruto’s potential vice president.
The three leaders are said to be exploring ways of working together, under the Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Kamba (KKK) alliance, to clinch the presidency in the next elections.
Ms Karua’s followers said Mr Musyoka is the most preferred running mate at 27 pc, closely followed by Mr Kenyatta (26pc) with a further 15pc backing Mr Odinga.
Interestingly, in the presidential race, 12 per cent of Kenyans indicated their support for President Kibaki despite the fact that he is not eligible to offer himself as a candidate. According to the Constitution, a person serving in the office of President can only do so for a maximum of two five-year terms.
Mr Kenyatta is the third most preferred presidential candidate with a 10 per cent approval followed by Mr Musyoka (8pc).
Eldoret North MP William Ruto and his Gichugu counterpart Martha Karua were preferred by 6pc and 5pc of Kenyans respectively.
Source: Daily Nation
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