If elections were to be held today, 47.4% Kenyans would vote for National Super Alliance Presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, while 46.7% would vote for President Uhuru Kenyatta, according to the latest poll conducted by a US pollster, John Zogby and commissioned by NASA.
This is the first poll to put Mr Odinga ahead since the campaigns began for the 8th August elections. The most recent credible poll by Infotrack released on June 30th showed President Uhuru of the Jubilee Party leading by 48% as Mr Odinga has a popularity score of 43 per cent.
The fact that it was commissioned by NASA, though, may raise questions about the poll’s credibility, especially among their opponents in Jubilee Party.
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The Zogby poll highlights that concerns about the state of the economy and worsening corruption under the Jubilee administration seem to be weighing on the President Uhuru’s chances.
The poll conducted between July 8 and 13 in every county in Kenya indicates that 42% of Kenyans think the country is heading in the wrong direction, 56% are concerned about unemployment while 42% are wary of corruption.
“If I were the President, I would be worried, nearly 70% of Kenyans think corruption has been more rampant in the last four years including 46% of his supporters,” Zogby said.
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Comparatively, a large number of people, including supporters of different political parties cite corruption as the reason for difficulties they encounter in their daily lives.
Over 88% of respondents say corruption plays a large or moderate role in the high rate of unemployment while 88% of Kenyans link the vice to social ills like the high cost of living and 82% of them link corruption to the shortage of basic foodstuff.
Zogby sees reasons for Raila Odinga’s camp to feel confident as 47% of undecided voters are considering voting for him as compared to 27% for President Kenyatta.
Another survey done this week by Star newspaper showed President Uhuru at 48% while the opposition chief trails him at 39%.
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