63 percent Kenyans would vote for woman president, poll reveals

By Athman Amran

Majority of Kenyans are ready to vote for a woman presidential candidate in the 2012 General Election, a poll by Infotrak Harris indicated.

According to the poll conducted between August 5 and 10, 63 per cent of Kenyans would vote in a woman President if given a chance.

Only 36 per cent are not prepared to vote for a female candidate.

“Kenyans would be looking at the ability, competence and character of the candidate and not whether it is a male of female,” Infotrak Executive Director Angela Ambitho said during a press conference at a Nairobi hotel.

Prefer female candidate

The poll also shows 80 per cent of Kenyans would have no problem voting for a female MP, while 64 per cent would prefer a female candidate for the position of councillor, 61 per cent (governor) and 60 per cent (senator).

Majority of the voters that would elect a woman come from Nyanza, with the ratings for the same being lowest in Central Province.

Of those who would vote a female presidential candidate, Nyanza leads with 89 per cent followed by Coast (82 per cent), Eastern (80 per cent) Western (79 per cent,) North Eastern (76 per cent), Rift Valley (72 per cent), Nairobi (67 per cent), and Central (56 per cent).

For some Kenyans, 76 per cent, gender is not a factor in choosing a leader.

“Across all regions gender is not a factor to majority of Kenyans in determining their choice of political candidate,” Ms Ambitho said.

In this category, Coast leads with 86 per cent followed by Nairobi, Nyanza and Rift Valley, which tie at 82 per cent. Of those polled in Eastern Province, 76 per cent do not consider gender as a factor in choosing candidate, with 71 per cent in  Western, 59 per cent in Central, and 53 per cent in North Eastern returning a similar verdict.

But more females (52 per cent) than males (48 per cent) consider gender a factor in determining their choices.

Majority of Kenyans (74 per cent), the poll indicates, support the constitutional provision that not more than two thirds of members of elective and appointive public bodies should be held by the same gender.

The poll, however, indicates more females (55 per cent) than males (45 per cent) support this provision despite more males (51 per cent) than females (49 per cent) being aware of the provision in the Constitution. The poll showed  78 per cent pf Kenyans are aware of the provision.

About 43 per cent said there should be more women representation, 28 per cent said it is high time women were recognised.