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Kenya, 15 November 2026 - Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru is the most preferred running mate for President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election, according to a national opinion poll by Swiss Poll International.
The poll, released on Saturday, 14 November 2026, asked respondents who they would like the President to pick as his running mate. Waiguru led the field with 42%.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki came second at 31%, which is 11 percentage points behind Waiguru. Governor Gladys Wanga was third at 13%.
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Medium and Small and Micro Enterprises Wycliffe Oparanya recorded 6%, while his Mining and Blue Economy counterpart Ali Hassan Joho managed 4%. Other candidates shared the remaining 4%.
Together, Waiguru and Kindiki account for 73% of responses, and the top three names combined account for 86%.
In its interpretation, the pollster said Waiguru ranks first as the preferred running mate for President Ruto, ahead of Kindiki. The figures reflect stated public preference, not a prediction of the President’s eventual choice.
"So, the Ruto-Waiguru ticket there, you know, emerges as the most preferred... Anne Waiguru emerges as the most preferred candidate there, and her preference presents an interesting dimension to the evolving political landscape, particularly around gender representation and regional political considerations," Zipporah Syokau of Swiss Poll International said.
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She added that as a female political figure from the Central Kenya region, Waiguru potentially offers the Ruto ticket both gender and regional appeal.
"Her consideration could be significant in efforts to strengthen the ticket appeal among women voters while consolidating political support in a region that remains electorally important, and that is the Central Region," she added.
The question was part of a wider national survey based on 4,113 telephone interviews conducted between 5 and 10 November 2026. Of the respondents, 2,184 (53.1%) were male and 1,929 (46.9%) were female. The pollster gave a margin of error of plus or minus 3% at a 95% confidence level.
On the presidential race, the same poll showed President Ruto of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leading preference at 37%. Wiper Patriotic Front Leader Kalonzo Musyoka followed at 28%, while Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) presidential aspirant Edwin Sifuna had 15%.
Fred Matiang’i of Jubilee Party and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) each scored 6%, followed by People’s Party of Kenya (PPK) leader Ndindi Nyoro at 4%. Other aspirants shared 1%, while 3% were undecided.
The survey also found that 48% of respondents believe Kenya is headed in the wrong direction, while 41% say it is headed in the right direction and 11% are not sure.
The pollster described the figures as present reported preference, not a projected result. It added that the findings are a snapshot of stated political preferences and public perceptions during the November fieldwork period.