A recently conducted internal survey shows ODM leader Raila Odinga has overtaken Deputy President William Ruto in Mt Kenya’s Kiambu county for the first time with a 50% approval rating from county residents.
The new poll puts DP Ruto at 40%, a drop from his previous ratings, considering he has been campaigning in the vote-rich region from 2018, compared to Raila Odinga’s three months.
The poll comes just a day after Sabina Chege, the Muranga woman rep disclosed the people of Mt Kenya are slowly embracing the former prime minister and will vote him next year as president.
The Woman Rep who is also a staunch ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta confessed her perception about the former prime minister changed after closely interacting with the ODM supremo, whom she describes as very polite and a family man.
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“I am no longer afraid of being associated with Raila, he is a leader like any other. Initially, we were told that Raila isn’t human. We were all afraid of him but we have had access to him. He is polite, a very good family man and very considerate. It is good to give him a chance,” she said.
Last week, influential business and political figures under the Mt Kenya Foundation endorsed Raila to take over from President Uhuru Kenyatta, describing him as the best bet in ensuring the region’s interests are protected post-Uhuru’s reign.
The covering of Mt Kenya political ground by Raila Odinga is attributed to his intense three-month political engagement in the region, something that has seen him win the support of six Mt Kenya governors, a number of MPs, and Cabinet Secretaries from the region.
