Ngatia first rising candidate for Nairobi in new poll

The race for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat could take a major twist in 2022 when aspirants hit top gear campaigns.

A poll conducted by the Times Research Group and Advocasy team reveals an interesting twist that captured the intrigues of the ever high tempo political battle for Nairobi.

The poll puts Nairobi senator Johnson Sakaja ahead but notable in the findings is the fast rising star of the President of the Kenya Chambers of Commerce and Industry Richard Ngatia.

Sakaja leads the pack with 31% support and is followed by Ngatia who is at 22%.Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi is third with 16% while former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru has 4% support at the moment.

Other candidates are Agnes Kagure who is at 2% while Esther Passaris who has not made clear her intentions on whether she is contesting the seat or defending her Woman Representative seat has 1%.

The poll was conducted between dates 22nd and 24th of December 2022 where 650 respondents from the 85 wards were interviewed.

Senator Sakaja currently enjoys support because he is the aspirant politically known to many residents and made his intentions know early enough.

However,revelations that Mr Ngatia is contesting the seat seem to have tilted the scales and the KCCI boss is slowly climbing up the ladder.

The findings project a 60% shift in the political landscape in Nairobi once the major political parties announce the candidates.

With 24% voters still not decided,there is going to be a major shift.

So far,Ngatia,Wanyonyi and Kagure have emerged as aspirants who will contest for the Azimio La Umoja ticket and the odds seem to be tilting towards Ngatia.

Tim Wanyonyi is also expected to be a major force but a number of factors are at play; among them the ability to mobilise resources and support, political support from President Uhuru,ODM leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto.

With Ngatia leading the pack as favourite for the AZIMIO ticket,it will be interesting to see how other factors will shape up and these includes the tribal arithmetic in the murky city politics.The Kikuyu,Luhya and Luo vote is what drives the waves for political office in Nairobi.

The Times is expected to release another poll focusing on Nairobi in mid February.The poll will also carry out findings on other seats in the county.