Poll: Majority of Kenyans will not re-elect their MPS

Written By:Rufus Hunja,    Posted: Fri, Jul 01, 2011

Majority of Kenyans who do not intend to re-elect their current members of parliament are mainly the youth (18 to 35 years)

63 percent of Kenyans will not re-elect their current members of parliament come the next year's general elections.

An opinion poll released Friday by Research Company Infotrak on ‘Kenyans' take on the Cost of Living and the 2012 General Elections' indicates that most Kenyans cited mismanagement of the Constituency Development Fund and unfulfilled promises main reasons for losing confidence in their leaders.

Survey results reveal that more urban dwellers 67% as compared to their rural counterparts 33% do not intend to re-elect their current MPs.

Those interviewed by the pollsters also said that most MPs are corrupt, have failed to deliver on their promises and have exhibited poor leadership. The legislators are further blamed for being inaccessible.

Of Kenyans who do not intend to re-elect their current MPs, majority are drawn from Nyanza, Western and Eastern regions. Nyanza province leads with77% followed by Eastern at 76% and Western 67%.

On the other hand, N.Eastern and Coastal regions recorded the lowest incidence levels of those who indicated they do not intend to re-elect their current Members of Parliament at 44% and 56% respectively.

Good management of Constituency Development Fund was mentioned by majority (71%) of those who said they would re-elect their current MP's in the Coastal region

77% of those in North Eastern region who said they would re-elect their current MP's, mentioned the Unbiaseness of the MP's as their main reason

Undelivered promises was cited as the main reason for those in Eastern, Nyanza and Western for not intending to re-elect their current Members of Parliament

44% of those in Nyanza region mentioned poor management of CDF as the reason they do not intend to re-elect their current MP's

Releasing the poll results, Infotrak Chief Executive Officer Angela Ambitho said 84% of Kenyans say the living standards have dropped compared to last year.

79% blaming the high cost of living while 23% blame lack of employment.  The research further shows that 91% of Kenyans have adversely been affected by the rising cost of basic commodities.

More urban dwellers (66%) than their rural counterparts (34%) stated the escalating fuel and food prices have had an effect on their lifestyle.

More males (59%) than females (41%) said the escalating fuel and food prices have had an effect on their lifestyle.

A sample of 2400 respondents was interviewed to represent the Kenyan adult population of 19,000,000 translating into a margin of error of -/+ 2.0 at 95% level of confidence. The survey was conducted in all regions of Kenya

81pc of those polled aged between 18 and 35 yrs.