A new survey conducted in the month of March now indicates that Meru Senator Mithika Linturi is the most preferred gubernatorial candidate in Meru.
An open survey conducted by Meru Daily News on March 13th with the three frontrunners (Kiraitu, Kawira and Linturi) indicates that Senator Linturi is the most popular candidate, with 54% in approval ratings.
Meru Woman Representative Kawira Mwangaza comes second with 27%, while Governor Kiraitu Murungi secured 19% of the total responses in the survey. A section of respondents still suggested that Kawira Mwangaza joins UDA and supports Linturi’s candidature.
“Mama should reconsider her moves. Either vie as Woman Rep or join UDA and vie alongside Linturi as his runningmate.” says Cecilia Kanana.
Kawira Mwangaza will be unveiling her preferred political party on Sunday (20th March 2022) in a televised session on her media station – Baite TV.
Although she was initially linked to Jubilee Party, pundits argue that Kawira will most likely contest as an Independent Candidate, following Governor Kiraitu Murungi’s decision to join the Azimio la Umoja Coalition.
“I know Kiraitu is waiting for me to declare my party of choice so he can decide on where to navigate his Bus. If I join Azimio, he will follow me there. If I join Kenya Kwanza, he will follow me so that we can go to the nominations together. But I want to tell him that Bishop Kawira Mwangaza will be on the ballot on August 9,” Kawira said on Baite TV last month.
A similar poll conducted on Saturday (March 19th 2022) between Kiraitu Murungi and Mithika Linturi reveals that the Meru Senator would beat the incumbent by garnering 73% of the total votes cast in the August 9 general election.
On party popularity, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) remains the most popular political party among Meru residents, with approval ratings of 87% against the Devolution Empowerment Party (Mbus) with 13%.
In a TV interview on Monday (14th March 2022), Governor Kiraitu Murungi admitted that DP Ruto and his UDA Party enjoy overwhelming support Meru, Tharaka Nithi and several other Counties in the Mt. Kenya region. He however cited several other regions where ODM leader Raila Odinga commands a huge following.
“The research is indeed true. DP Ruto is the most popular candidate in Meru and the entire Mt. Kenya region. Our country is however made up of several other regions, and many of them support Raila Odinga,” Kiraitu said on Weru TV.
A survey conducted by Meru Daily News between 17th March and 18th March 2022 reveals that William Ruto is indeed the most preferred Presidential candidate in Meru, enjoying approval ratings of 86% against Raila Odinga’s 14%.
Senator Mithika Linturi is the latest entrant into the gubernatorial race, having paired up with South Imenti MP Kathuri Murungi, who is seeking to be the next Meru Senator, also on a UDA Party ticket.
Linturi’s candidature was endorsed by eight Members of Parliament from Meru. According to DP Ruto, the decision to field a UDA gubernatorial candidate in Meru was necessitated by Governor Kiraitu’s move to Azimio la Umoja led by his rival Raila Odinga.
On his part, Linturi says he has been oiling up for the seat to oust Governor Kiraitu, whom he accuses of poor service delivery, corruption and nepotism.
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