A majority of Kenyans backing President William Ruto’s re-election bid prefer Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as his running mate in the 2027 General Election, a new survey has revealed.
According to the latest national survey released on May 14, 2026, by the Trends and Insights For Africa (TIFA), titled Current Political Alignments and 2027 Election Prospects, 59 per cent of respondents who support President Ruto’s re-election said they would prefer Prof. Kindiki to remain on the ticket as deputy president.
The survey found that other potential running mates trail significantly behind, with Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga emerging as the second-most preferred choice at 12 per cent — roughly one-fifth of Kindiki’s support.
ODM acting party leader Oburu Odinga and former Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho tied in third place with 3 per cent support each.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi attracted 2 per cent support, while National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula registered 1 per cent.
The findings come as President Ruto maintains his position as the country’s most popular potential presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
According to the survey, President Ruto currently commands support from 24 per cent of Kenyans, making him the leading potential presidential contender.
However, TIFA noted that while the President remains ahead of potential challengers, the figure — representing roughly one-quarter of respondents — suggests the Opposition still has considerable room to consolidate support before next year’s election.
The pollster observed that support for many of Ruto’s likely challengers remains heavily concentrated in their regional strongholds, raising questions over their ability to build broad national appeal.
The survey further suggested uncertainty over whether backing currently spread among several Opposition figures could easily shift to a single candidate should one flagbearer eventually emerge.
TIFA also pointed to legal uncertainty surrounding former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whose eligibility to contest in the 2027 election remains unclear amid an ongoing court challenge linked to his 2024 impeachment.
The report highlighted several shifts in presidential preference ratings over the past year, including the political exit of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga from the presidential race.
Meanwhile, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has emerged as a new political force, recording a rise in popularity from zero to 10 per cent in presidential preference ratings.
At the same time, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i saw his support decline from 32 per cent to 24 per cent since returning from the United Kingdom a year ago.
Similarly, support for Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka dropped sharply from 29 per cent in November 2025 to 14 per cent in the latest survey.
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