Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has emerged as the most preferred running mate for President William Ruto in the run-up to the 2027 General Election, according to a new opinion poll released by TIFA Research.
The survey, conducted between May 2 and May 11, 2026, involved face-to-face household interviews with 2,013 randomly selected adults drawn from all 47 counties across the country.
According to the findings, 59 percent of respondents who support President Ruto’s re-election bid said they would prefer Kindiki to remain the deputy presidential candidate in 2027. The poll suggests that a majority of Kenya Kwanza supporters favour continuity within the current administration as political attention slowly shifts toward the next presidential contest.
TIFA noted that Kindiki’s strong performance in the survey reflects growing confidence among supporters of the ruling coalition, with many respondents viewing him as a stable and politically acceptable figure within the government.
The report further indicated that leaders associated with the broad-based government arrangement and opposition-linked figures attracted comparatively lower support for the running mate position. According to the pollster, many respondents still prefer a deputy selected from President Ruto’s close political circle rather than from parties recently brought into government cooperation.
The survey also showed that other possible contenders remain significantly behind Kindiki in popularity rankings. Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga emerged as the second most mentioned name, although her support stood at only a fraction of Kindiki’s.
The latest findings come at a time when political realignments continue to shape national debate ahead of the 2027 elections, with growing speculation over possible alliances and succession strategies within the Kenya Kwanza administration and the wider opposition landscape.
