NAIROBI, Kenya Jul 24 – Nearly two-thirds of Kenyans opposed to President William Ruto’s re-election believe former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua should support the strongest opposition candidate rather than insist on leading the coalition himself, according to a new TIFA poll. The survey, released on Friday, shows that 62 percent of anti-Ruto voters prioritise opposition unity over personalities, suggesting voters are more interested in defeating the incumbent than who eventually carries the coalition’s presidential flag. Among respondents opposed to Ruto’s re-election, 14 percent said Gachagua should contest the election and become the main opposition presidential candidate if allowed by the courts as 33 percent said he should support another opposition candidate even if he is legally cleared to run.
29 percent said he should back another opposition candidate if he is barred from contesting, 5 percent believed there is no realistic scenario in which President Ruto can be defeated and 19 percent were undecided. The findings indicate that anti-Ruto voters are largely united around the goal of presenting a single formidable challenger in the 2027 General Election, regardless of whether Gachagua emerges as the coalition’s flag bearer. The poll suggests that while Gachagua remains an influential opposition figure, many of his supporters and other anti-government voters are willing to rally behind a different candidate if that improves the opposition’s chances of unseating President Ruto.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 24 – President William Ruto remains the frontrunner in the race for the 2027 General Election with 24 percent support, according to the latest TIFA Research opinion poll, as opposition backing continues to be divided among several contenders. The survey indicates that Ruto’s support has remained stable, rising from 19 percent in September 2025 to 24 percent in May and June 2026. Among opposition figures, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna registered the strongest growth, climbing from virtually no measurable support in 2025 to 10 percent in May and 15 percent in June 2026, making him one of the leading opposition contenders.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, who previously topped the opposition field with 32 percent in August 2022, continued his decline, dropping to 14 percent in June 2026. Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka also lost support, falling from a peak of 25 percent in November 2025 to 13 percent in June 2026. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua registered 7 percent, up from 3 percent in May, while Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah (“Babu”) stood at 2 percent after declining from 8 percent in November 2025.
The poll further shows that 20 percent of respondents remain undecided, highlighting that a significant portion of the electorate has yet to settle on a preferred presidential candidate. TIFA noted that while President Ruto maintains a clear lead, the opposition vote remains fragmented across multiple candidates, preventing any single challenger from closing the gap.
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