If the General Elections were held today, Meru Governor Peter Munya and his Bomet counterpart Isaac Ruto would retain their respective seats with less than 50 percent of the total votes tallied.
According to research findings released by Infotrak yesterday, the two incumbent county bosses stand a chance of flooring their competitors if they contest on Party of National Unity (PNU) and Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) tickets respectively.
In Meru, governor Munya would garner 41.4 percent followed by Kiraitu Murungi, Kilemi Mwiria and Kinoti Gatobu at 29, 6.3 and 3.4 percents.
Despite the study putting senator Kiraitu in the second position, Jubilee Party (JP) remains popular in the county followed by ODM and PNU.
“The study shows that Jubilee Party is popular by 55.5 percent followed by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and PNU at 11.8 and 8.4 percents respectively,” said Infotrak researcher Mary Njoki.
Jubilee coalition remains top in the region at 63.7 percent compared to National Super Alliance’s (NASA) 15.5 percent.
In Bomet, the seat would be hotly contested by governor Ruto and National Assembly deputy Speaker Laboso as they would scoop 38.9 and 37.7 percent of the total votes respectively, leaving a margin of only 1.2 percent.
Julius Kones would come third by 7.3 percent.
Laboso – Jubilee Party candidate – would emerge second despite the party having a popularity of 73.8 percent compared to CCM, ODM and Kanu parties which would garner 12, 4.1 and 0.5 percents respectively.
The research and consulting firm shows JP would garner 82.5 percent while NASA would get 6.6 percent according to political party popularity in the county,
Njoki announced that Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi would emerge victorious in the senatorial race by garnering 35.6 percent followed by Mugambi Imanyara and Kiraitu at 9.3 and 3.2 percents.
The county’s incumbent women representative Florence Kajuju would have to work hard to reclaim her seat as the study shows that she would only get 35 percent against 34.9 percent of her main competitor Kawira Mwangaza.
The findings indicate that Bomet senator Prof Wilfred Lesan (Jubilee) would recapture his seat by getting 24 percent against Kanu’s Nick Salat 13.5 percent.