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How Much Trust do Kenyans Have for Pollsters and Leaders?

BY David Indeje · August 8, 2016 02:08 pm

The problems Kenyans face today such as insufficient political voice, inequitable access to services and opportunities have become a perennial predicament that leaders use to have their way out.

On the economic front, different players at the political and policy level are keen to ensure we have a sustainable national debt, affordable and effective health care, education reform, economic growth among many other facets of the country.

In the recent past, Kenyans have witnessed spew hatred amongst each other leading to eight legislators from both CORD and Jubilee being charged with incitement to violence in June.

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They include Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama, Busia woman representative Florence Mutua, Kilifi woman representative Aisha Jumwa, Moses Kuria (Gatundu South MP), Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete MP), Kimani Ngunjiri (Bahati MP), Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba MP) and Junet Mohamed (Suna East MP).

This was not a first. Hate speech and the fanning of ethnic discord was linked with violence after the disputed presidential results of the 2007 elections that left nearly 1,500 dead and 600,000 displaced.

Linda Ochiel, member of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) in a past local television interview, she said they have processed over 900 cases of hate speech in Kenya, 6 cases have been prosecuted successfully.

Read: Hatemonger Politicians Still in Custody But will this Tame their Tongues?

Ahead of the 2017 General Elections, Poll after poll from different players are emerging to gauge the level of perceptions the citizens have on their leaders. Many political leaders have emerged spending more time tearing down the very same institutions they serve for political gain instead of lifting them up and using them to improve the lives of all Kenyans, creating a toxic environment in which nothing meaningful can get through the legislative body for the President’s signature to bring about real change in this country that is desperately needed.

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The question to pose is, how much trust and confidence do people have for the pollsters, leaders and other aspects like to the doctor, house help, and taxi transport for improving the lives of all Kenyans?

Forty two per cent of Kenyans do not trust their leader compared to 20 percent who trust them and 37 percent who completely distrust them.

An online poll by conducted on Twitter by Mr. Steve Biko (@SokoAnalyst) on 2 August 2017 among 59 users.

These contrasts with 42 percent of Kenyans who trust President Uhuru Kenyatta can manage the country better than the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga 40 percent; Musalia Mudavadi at 4percent who is defeated by Dr. Ekuru Oukot rated at 14 percent out of 121 people who participated in the polls on 3 August.

Ironically, as Kenyans anticipate for more pollster results before they cast their vote, they do trust the pollster at 76percent compared to 24 percent who trust polls.