A recent survey conducted by Politrack Africa has unveiled a concerning sentiment among Nairobi residents, revealing that 57.3% of the population is dissatisfied with the county’s current trajectory.
The poll, which was released on Thursday, February 6, casts a stark light on Governor Johnson Sakaja’s perceived failures since taking office, with only 11.2% of residents expressing support for his potential re-election.
Nairobi’s Direction Under Scrutiny
The survey highlights a significant disconnect between the city’s administration and its residents, with a mere 18.7% believing that Nairobi is headed in the right direction.
Nearly 11.1% remain undecided, while 10.7% are unsure of the county’s trajectory altogether. Alarmingly, 2.2% opted not to answer the question regarding the county’s direction.
Key Concerns Revealed
Residents voiced a range of critical issues affecting their daily lives, with corruption leading the charge at 42.1%. Other major concerns included environmental pollution (24.6%), road traffic (11.1%), harassment from city council officers (10.2%), insecurity (7.5%), and inadequate water and sanitation services (3.3%).
The report sheds light on the Nairobi county administration’s performances in various regions, with Starehe leading at 50.1%, followed by Embakasi North (49.1%) and Kibra (47.5%). However, the administration struggled in critical areas, notably in urban planning, which garnered only 6.7% approval.
Election Sentiments and Potential Candidates
Looking ahead to the next election, if held today, 10.4% of residents indicated that they would consider tribal affiliation before choosing the next governor. In contrast, 31.1% prioritized a development-oriented leader, while a significant 50% emphasized the importance of a candidate’s track record.
Should elections be conducted presently, the survey predicts dismal prospects for Sakaja. A striking 21.5% of residents would vote against him, and an additional 20.8% are likely to do the same. Only 12.1% remain neutral, leaving 25.3% unsure about re-electing the incumbent.
Interestingly, the survey indicated that 33.0% of respondents favoured Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi as the preferred candidate for the Nairobi gubernatorial race. He is closely followed by James Gakuya of Embakasi North (30.1%) and Babu Owino of Embakasi East (20.3%). Governor Sakaja finished far behind with just 11.2% support.
Outlook for Local Leaders Sifuna and Passaris
Meanwhile, Senator Edwin Sifuna appears to be in a stronger position, with 51.1% of residents indicating they would vote to re-elect him as county senator. His performance was rated highest in Kibra (69.0%) and Starehe (67.9%), suggesting broad support across several constituencies.
In the same vein, Esther Passaris, the Nairobi Woman Representative, also faces challenges, as only 25.2% of residents expressed intent to vote for her again, while 21.3% would not support her re-election bid.
