Ruto: New TIFA Polls Are Fake

Deputy President William Ruto has ignited a catfight with the recently-released Trends and Insights Africa (TIFA) polls pitting him closely behind his opponent, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition flagbearer, Raila Odinga 

Speaking during a political rally on Monday, July 11 in Bungoma County, Ruto blamed Raila for using the opinion polls as solid proof that the coalition will emerge victorious in the August 9 elections less than a month away. 

Ruto affirmed that it will be Kenyans to elect the 5th president of the Republic of Kenya in the elections and not opinion polls which have been viewed as weapons against him.

Deputy President William Ruto speaking in Bungoma County on July 11, 2022. /WILLIAM RUTO

He boasted that his Kenya Kwanza coalition has beaten the rivalling Azimio faction in leaps and bounds; from manifestos to countrywide campaigns. 

"Stop disturbing us with opinion polls, Kenyans will decide on August 9. We have beaten them with manifestos, plans, policies and campaigns. 

"They are left with fake opinion polls, their work is to draw I don't know who will win, who leads, stop disturbing us. Will those who are doing opinion polls decide on the outcome of the elections?" he posed. 

The TIFA polls showed Ruto trailing Raila, but the gap between the two has been shrinking and the former is on the verge of overpowering the latter ahead of the grand contest in August. Ruto’s popularity stood at 39 per cent, which is closer than Raila's at 42 per cent. 

This is compared to a similar poll on June 18 which placed Raila's popularity at 39 per cent compared to Ruto’s 32 per cent, a difference of seven per cent then compared to three per cent now. 

"Both Raila and Ruto have gained compared to the last survey because of the decline of those who said they were undecided from 14 to 10 per cent," TIFA Analyst Tom Wolf explained earlier on Monday.

The choice of Rigathi Gachagua as Ruto's running mate saw him gain 7 per cent to 53 per cent in the Mt Kenya region. 

However, despite naming Martha Karua as his running mate, Raila Odinga's popularity in the region remain stagnant at 24 per cent.

The Raila-Karua ticket scored highest in Nairobi and Nyanza regions (58 and 68 per cent respectively) while Ruto-Gachagua ticket scored highest in Central Rift and Northern Kenya (63 and 55 per cent respectively).

DP William Ruto gaining more in popularity compared to Raila Odinga. /TIFA RESEARCH

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party remains the most-popular political party at 33 per cent compared to one quarter (26 per cent) aligned to ODM, leaving all other parties with less than half of 13 per cent. 

The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition remains the most popular at 42 per cent, though it holds a slight advantage over the Kenya Kwanza coalition which is at 35 per cent.