Infotrak: Western Kenya topples Central in Ruto popularity ratings
Kenyans have handed President William Ruto a ‘D’ grade, equivalent to a 47% score in a ranking released on December 29, 2023, by survey team Infotrak.
The same poll has awarded Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua an ‘E’ score, equivalent to a 36% score.
Regionally, President William Ruto was handed a 50% rating in his native Rift Valley, closely followed by Western and Central at 49% and 48% respectively.
The Coast region, consisting of Mombasa, Malindi, Kwale, and Lamu regions meanwhile handed the Head of State a 44% rating, while North Eastern (43%), Eastern (46%), Nyanza (41%), and Nairobi (48%) all handed the President a below average mark in his first full year in office.
DP Gachagua on the other hand only scored 40% in the Rift Valley region with the rest of the areas giving him a rating of 35% in Coast, 34% in North Eastern, 37% in Eastern, 39% Central, 37% Western, 29% Nyanza, and 34% in Nairobi.
In the Kenya Kwanza government, only the Deputy President was rated poorly with the opposition performing better than him and President Ruto at 48 percent. Cabinet secretaries scored (43%), the National Assembly (43%), the Senate 42%, the Judiciary 47%, Police 45%, County Governments 47%, and County Assemblies having a rating of 45%.
Kenyans rated the Head of State and his Deputy poorly for a variety of reasons including the high cost of living, high taxation, housing and fuel levies, and high unemployment rates.
Desperation and the state of the economy among Kenyans were noted as thousands flocked to politicians’ homes for free meals and goodies during the festive season.
Separately, the Deputy President has been called out for his not-so-diplomatic tone in his official addresses including at a particular moment where he described President Ruto’s government as one that consisted ‘shareholders’ who voted for it.
Over the past year, Kenya’s public mood has shifted.
The survey further indicates that compared to December 2022, the number of Kenyans feeling the country is heading in the wrong direction has increased by 7% from 55% to 61%.
Under the reasons for the country going in the wrong direction, Kenyans rated 93% on the issue of the high cost of living, 37% on unemployment 37%, 20% on poverty, 17% increase in taxation, 11% on poor governance, and 10% rampant corruption
The survey was conducted between December 18-19, with quantitative interviews being conducted through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI).
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