Stephen Mburu
9 September 2007
Nairobi — Many of the current male MPs are likely to lose to female parliamentary candidates in this year's elections, a recent poll says.
The poll was conducted last month in 26 constituencies in six provinces by Infotrak Research & Consulting and Harris Interactive Global in conjunction with the Centre for Multi-party Democracy (CMD-Kenya).
The poll results, released a week ago, indicate that Water minister Mr Mutua Katuku might lose the Mwala seat to a female candidate.
He garnered 36 per cent support from the respondents while his closest rival Dr Faith Muli had 44 per cent in a constituency where 76 per cent of the respondents said they preferred their next MP to be a woman.
It further says that Vice-President Mr Moody Awori and a number of ministers will face stiff opposition from female contestants.
Mr Awori is expected to scrape through in Funyula. He got the approval of 38 per cent of the respondents against Nominated MP and ODM Kenya leader Dr Julia Ojiambo's 36 per cent.
The poll focused on 26 "special constituencies" with women candidates who are considered "strong".
The CMD Kenya communications officer Ms Sarah Muhoya, told the Sunday Nation that the organisation was sponsoring its "point women" in the "special constituencies".
But the organisation has no key candidates in North Eastern and Coast provinces.
Last week, Ms Muhoya was in Kikuyu where she launched civic education programmes in the constituency for Ms Nancy Njunji Hinga.
She said that after MPs shot down the Bill that sought to create 50 special seats for women the organisation would support "strong" women candidates in the General Election.
"We now have no alternative but to help women fight it out with men. We need to have more women MPs," she said.
The "special constituencies" are Funyula, Tetu, Kikuyu, Ndia, Kandara, Alego Usonga, Cherangany, Starehe, Mwea, Githunguri, Aldai, Kibwezi, Mwala and Gachoka.
Others are: Kisumu Town West, Kamukunji, Kwanza, Voi, Kiambaa, Kimilili, Lari, Kitui Central, Butere, Butula, Masinga and Gwassi.
A sample of 700 respondents was interviewed. The sample was defined by area, age, gender, socio-economic profile and political dynamics.
Assistant minister Mr Kalembe Ndile got 30 per cent support against Ms Grace Mwewa's 33 per cent for the Kibwezi seat. Another assistant minister Mr Joshua Toro of Kandara got 40 per cent against Ms Alice Wahome's 41 per cent.
The poll indicated that Ms Nazlin Umar would beat Narc Chief Whip Mr Norman Nyagah for the Kamukunji seat. She received the support of 39 per cent of the respondents against Mr Nyagah's 30 per cent.
MPs Mr Viscount Kimathi (Lari), Mr Jimmy Choge (Aldai), Mr Wycliffe Oparanya (Butere) and Mr Alfred Nderitu (Mwea) are expected to face stiff competition from Mrs Caroline Ng'ang'a, Dr Sally Kosgei, Prof Ruth Oniang'o and Ms Lydia Mukami respectively.
Forty-nine per cent of the respondents in Aldai preferred Dr Kosgei and 46 per cent Mr Choge. Ms Christine Kilalo emerged the preferred candidate against Voi MP Mr Boniface Mghanga, getting the nod from 33 per cent of the respondents against the MP's 32 per cent.
A co-ordinator of the Orange Women Democrats Ms Rozaah Akinyi Buyu is expected to give Kisumu Town West MP Mr Ken Nyagundi a run for his money, according to the poll.
While ministers Mr Maina Kamanda (Starehe) and Mr Njenga Karume (Kiambaa) may easily beat their closest female rivals Bishop Margaret Wanjiru and Philo Ikonya respectively, Mr Kipruto Kirwa (Cherangany) and Mr Mukhisa Kituyi (Kimilili) are expected to fight it out with Mrs Zipporah Kittony and Frida Nalianya respectively.
Although they also face female contestants, Nobel Peace Laureate and Tetu MP Prof Wangari Maathai, Health minister Mrs Charity Ngilu and Butula MP Prof Christine Mango are expected to retain their seats.
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