A fresh opinion survey has placed Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru at the top of a list of leaders viewed as best positioned to strengthen President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The survey, carried out by Politrack Africa, sought public opinion on which political figure would add the greatest value to the president’s re election campaign if selected to serve as deputy president.
More than 154,000 people took part in the exercise, which focused on leadership appeal, regional influence and the ability to attract votes from key parts of the country.
According to the findings, Waiguru received 30.9 percent support, placing her well ahead of the other leaders included in the poll. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki came in second with 19.3 percent, while Gladys Wanga ranked third after attracting 17 percent.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi received 9.2 percent support, while Mining Cabinet Secretary Ali Hassan Joho polled 7.5 percent. George Kariuki secured 4.3 percent, while 6.4 percent of those surveyed said they had not made up their minds.
Researchers noted that the difference between Waiguru and Kindiki was large enough to be considered statistically significant.
They argued that Waiguru enjoys wider appeal across the Mt Kenya region, an area expected to play a major role in determining the outcome of the next presidential election.
The report further suggested that her political experience and leadership in Kirinyaga County make her a strong figure capable of bringing together different voting blocs within the region.
Analysts behind the survey believe this could improve President Ruto’s chances of retaining support in one of Kenya’s most influential voting areas.
The poll also pointed to gender as another factor that may be boosting Waiguru’s popularity. Researchers observed that her presence on a presidential ticket could attract additional backing from women voters across different political affiliations.
Meanwhile, Wanga’s performance placed her among the strongest opposition figures featured in the survey.
However, the report indicated that political divisions within the opposition could make it difficult for her to unite support across regions such as Nyanza, Western and the Coast despite her personal popularity.
The findings come at a time when discussions around possible alliances and leadership combinations for the 2027 General Election are gaining momentum.
Although political parties are yet to unveil official running mates, opinion polls such as this continue to shape debate over which leaders could have the greatest influence on the race for State House.