Raila overtakes Ruto after both candidates unveiled their running mates - TIFA report

Just days after the announcement of two of the most popular running mates in the August presidential election, TIFA has released a report detailing the impact of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and Narc Kenya Martha Karua on the presidential tickets.

Deputy President William Ruto picked Gachagua as his designated DP while Azimio la Umoja Kenya candidate Raila Odinga chose Karua.

According to the survey conducted between Monday and Tuesday, more Kenyans who were interviewed preferred the Odinga-Karua ticket to the Ruto-Rigathi pair.

Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate, DP William Ruto with his running mate, Mr Rigathi Gachagua, at the DP’s Karen residence in Nairobi Pulse Live Kenya

Raila's popularity stood at 39 per cent against the DP’s 35 per cent. Odinga’s popularity increased from 32% in April to 39% in May, while Ruto’s declined from 39%.

Among those who indicated that they would vote for Raila, 85% identified Martha Karua while among Ruto’s supporters, 59% identified Rigathi.

However, UDA remained the most popular party at 29% while ODM emerged second at 25%, followed by Jubilee and Wiper at 3%.

More Kenyans expressed support for Azimio la Umoja/One Kenya Alliance (38%) than for the Kenya Kwanza Alliance (28%).

Over the last sixteen months, Jubilee’s popularity shot down from 40% to 5%, while UDA’s increased from 0 to 29%.

Ruto compares his running mate to Raila's

After Odinga unveiled his running mate on Monday, Ruto compared Karua to his running mate Gachagua and claimed that the Azimio ticket had misplaced priorities.

“Yesterday [Sunday] I unveiled Gachagua as my deputy nominee and gave him the duty of coming up with an economic plan for each and every county. Today, our competitor has unveiled his deputy nominee and gave her work to change the constitution in case they win. Kenyans want economic revival, not constitutional change,” Ruto said in Ongata Rongai.

He also accused Azimio of undermining Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who left the alliance to run for President yesterday. Musyoka announced Andrew Sunkuli, a Narok Senate candidate, as his running mate.

“Leaders of high calibre are ditching the Azimio coalition every day. It began with [Mr] Mudavadi and Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula. Today, we have seen [Mr] Musyoka and [Kanu leader] Gideon Moi leaving. If these people can deceive fellow leaders, they can do worse to millions of innocent Kenyans,” the DP stated.