By Betty Luke
Former Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo would reclaim the seat he lost to Governor Mohammed Kuti in 2017 if elections were held today, a recent poll shows.
The poll by Trends & Insights for Africa (Tifa) shows that Mr Doyo, an Independent candidate, enjoys close to half of the county’s support against his main competitor Abdi Ibrahim Hassan of Jubilee party.
The pioneer county chief leads with a popularity rating of 45 percent followed by Mr Ibrahim (Guyo) at 34 percent. Former EACC boss Halakhe Waqo (ODM) comes third with four percent ahead of UDA’s Hussein Tene who is at two percent.
This means, about 30, 432 voters would vote for Mr Guyo against Mr Doyo’s 40278. Isiolo has 89507 total registered voters according to data from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
Senator Fatuma Dullo who is seeking reelection on Jubilee ticket enjoys 47 percent lead over Nuh Mohammed Ibrahim who would come second with about 24, 000 voters should elections be held today.
Ms Dullo would emerge the winner with about 42, 000 votes.
In the County MP seat contest, incumbent Rehema Jaldesa is neck to neck with former Education CAS Mumina Bonaya and would narrowly retain her seat with 36 percent rating. Ms Bonaya has 29 percent popularity rating.
TSP’s Milka Kawira comes third with five percent rating, UDA’s Winfred Kagwiria fourth at four percent while Sumeya Bishar of DAP-K and Mumina Konso (DEP) tie at fifth position with three percent.
The poll also shows that Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA Party is the most popular in the county at 32 percent followed by ODM (27 percent) and Jubilee (22 percent).
Azimio la Umoja is the most popular coalition party at 39 percent followed closely by Dr Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza at 35 percent.
Fifty percent of Isiolo voters would also vote for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Presidential candidate Raila Odinga if elections were done today while 42 percent would cast their votes in favour of DP Ruto.
Roots Party Presidential contender George Wajackoyah comes third with three percent rating.
The candidate who will woo the majority of the undecided 18 percent voters in the two-horse Woman Rep’ contest will likely carry the day in the August elections.
Either of the two leading candidates in Senate and gubernatorial contest could emerge the winner in the coming polls if they manage to pull to their side majority of the undecided 20 percent and 11 percent voters respectively.
A total of 435 voters in Isiolo were interviewed on phone between July 5 and July 6 this year with the sample distributed across Isiolo North and South constituencies.
