Strategic Research: 'Yes' gains followers as 'No' remains static

The latest and last opinion poll by Strategic Research shows the 'Yes' camp would win by 66 per cent of the votes cast were the referendum to be held today.

The opinion poll released yesterday showed that 20 per cent of the voters support the ‘No’ camp with nine per cent still undecided on whom to vote for.

Yesterday, Strategic Research Director Caesar Handa said the ‘Yes’ camp had made gains in the last few weeks.

An opinion poll released by the company two weeks ago showed 62 per cent of Kenyans would vote ‘Yes’ if the vote were held then.

The poll indicated that 20 per cent of registered voters would choose ‘No’, while 18 per cent were undecided.

Gained four points

But yesterday, Handa said the ‘Yes’ camp had gained four points while the support for ‘No’ had remained static.

Nyanza Province led with the highest support for the Proposed Constitution at 86 per cent followed by Central, North Eastern, Coast and Western at 75, 71, 69 and 69 per cent respectively.

The ‘Yes’ camp enjoys the least support in Eastern and Rift Valley Provinces at 52 and 51 per cent respectively.

Support in rift valley

The opinion poll showed the ‘No’ camp enjoys the most support in Rift Valley and Eastern provinces at 34 and 33 per cent respectively.

Handa said 84 per cent of those interviewed said they would participate in the referendum with six per cent abstaining.

On regional voting, Nyanza led with the largest turn out of expected voters at 88 per cent followed by Coast, Nyanza, Central, Western, Rift Valley, Eastern and North Eastern at 88, 87, 86, 83, 81, 83 and 73 per cent respectively.

Most respondents said they would vote since the country needs change and a new constitution, while those opposed to the new laws said the draft had many mistakes.