Survey rates ODM Boga as front runner in by-election
Munira Mandano
Orange Democratic Movement candidate Omar Boga has been ranked as the popular contender in the Msambweni by-election, according to an opinion poll released yesterday.
According to the survey released by Trends and Insights For Africa (TIFA Research, voters were asked on who among the candidates they were most familiar with, as well as their express choice.
“When it comes to the candidate who is most familiar to the respondents, Boga leads with 46 per cent followed by Feisal Bader at 36 per cent and Ali Mwakulonda 13 per cent, Marere wa Mwachai (three), Shee Mahmud (two) per cent and Khamisi Mwakaonje 0 per cent,” said TIFA lead researcher Tom Wolf.
He also said Boga still led as the express candidate of choice with 54 per cent, Bader 29 per cent, Ali Mwakulonda 9 per cent and Marere wa Mwachai (two) per cent.
Fear contracting Covid
The survey was conducted between November 29 and December 1, polling a total of 320 respondents.
However, TIFA Chief Exceutive Officer Maggie Ireri said that there is fear of vore apathy in the by election.
Ireri noted that their findings showed that Msambweni constituency has alot of problems and locals need a leader, who can address at leaset 50 per cent.
Others problems facing Msambweni ersidents are lack of school fees, lack of water, poor quality education, poor health services, drug abuse, tribalism, poor infrastructure, poor leadership and diseases.
Young people aged 18-20 years will not take part in the election since the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has not conducted any registration since the 2017.
However the other candidates led by Bader rubbished the opinion poll report.
“I don’t care about the report since I know it was biased, what I know is that come December 15, I will clinch the Msambweni seat.”
Msambweni constituency has 68,621 registered voters and in 2017 General Election, 42,350 voters turned out- which is 62 per cent turn out.
Six candidates who vied for the parliamentary seat and ODM’s Suleiman Dori (now deceased) clinched the seat.
