A group of Ukambani legislators has dismissed the latest survey by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA), calling it misleading and politically motivated.
The leaders spoke on Friday, September 12, 2025, during a boda boda empowerment drive at NYS Grounds in Yatta constituency. The event was hosted by area MP Annastacia Muendo.
MPs Question Poll Credibility
Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai criticized the poll, saying it failed to capture the true picture on the ground.
“TIFA has asked questions and said things are bad in Kenya, but I was not even asked. Why wasn’t I asked? If TIFA had asked me, I would have told them about the Social Health Authority (SHA), which the President has implemented,” Nyamai said.
Her comments suggested that the poll ignored positive government initiatives, especially in rural areas.
Kawaya Dismisses “Fake Narratives”
Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka Kawaya, who also serves as UDA’s national organizing secretary, accused pollsters of driving negative political narratives.
“These opinion polls are clearly meant to push a certain agenda,” Kawaya stated.
He questioned the historical accuracy of Kenyan opinion polls, noting that they had often placed opposition leader Raila Odinga in the lead, yet he never won elections.
Grassroots Support for Ruto
Kawaya further stressed that President Ruto still commands strong grassroots support.
“President William Ruto is a grassroots person. The rural areas have a different reality from Nairobi. Critics cannot speak for boda boda riders and ordinary Kenyans without engaging them directly,” he said.
What TIFA Found
The MPs’ criticism came a day after TIFA released its national survey conducted between August 23 and September 3, 2025.
The findings showed that:
- 65% of Kenyans said they were negatively affected by the Finance Bill 2025.
- 82% cited higher costs of food, transport, and utilities.
- 73% felt the government was not doing enough to curb extra-judicial killings.
- Opposition to the Ruto–Raila cooperation framework rose to 64%.
The contrasting views highlight a growing debate between government allies and independent pollsters over Kenya’s political and economic direction.
