Sunday, August 22, 2010

No more 2012-focused opinion polls-politicians decry

BY BEAUTTAH OMANGA

The latest opinion poll on preferred 2012 presidential hopefuls has sparked outrage from a section of politicians.

Prospective 2012 Presidential hopefuls have called for the suspension of opinion polls on the next General Elections terming them misplaced.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and DPM Musalaia Mudavadi said they were concerned that the country’s focus was being mis-directed to ‘irrelevancies’.

" We should unite Kenyans behind a new look Kenyan through implementation of a new constitution," said Mudavadi.

The VP through his spokesman, Barsito Kaplich, also down played the polls saying Kenyans wanted to focus their attention on the implementation of the new constitution and not the 2012 elections.

Kaplich said the reality on the ground was different from the poor rating given his boss, the VP.

" Contrary to what the polls are depicting, things are different on the ground and those who think otherwise they rather check. Things are bound to change with time ahead of 2012" said Kaplich.

He said the VP was not bothered with the polls but wants the 2012 election campaigns put aside until the right time.

Latest polls

Latest polls sampled from 1200 Kenyans by Infotrak put Raila Odinga at 46 percent, Uhuru Kenyatta 13 percent, William Ruto 10 percent, Charity Ngilu 7 percent, Kalonzo Musyoka 6, Musalia Mudavadi 4 and Martha Karua 4 as preferred presidential hopefuls.

Justice Assistant Minister William Cheptumo and his heritage counterpart Wilfred Ombui said the country will only move forward if irrelevant polls were suspended until the right time saying as per the public statements by the two Principals and other leaders all Kenyans must direct their energies to the implementation of the new constitution.

" This country’s future and the 2012 elections will be dependant on how smooth we implement the new laws. Lets not confuse Kenyans with issues that are of no value at the moment" said Cheptumo.

Ombui said it was wrong for the pollsters to start misleading Kenyans that it was time to think of who their next president will be after President Kibaki retires as if " there is a vacuum between now and 2012".

Meant to divert attention

Konoin MP Julius Kones also dismissed the polls saying they were meant to divert Kenyans’ attention from the new constitution and its wanting implementation. "

Elsewhere the organizations carrying out opinion polls in the country were urged to exercise professionalism in their work.

Agriculture assistant minister Kareke Mbiuki and Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama said opinion polls in most cases mislead Kenyans, saying there is need for such organizations carrying out such opinion polls to be thorough and professional in their work.

4 comments:

  1. leaders must be fearless and accept results of the polls as they come .i want them to know that opinion polls represent a scientific study and are correct with respect to the time they are taken and so they are subject to change.let us embrace the polls not fear them

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