Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is facing a fresh political numbers test.

This is after a new Infotrak survey showed that Hassan Joho, Gladys Wanga and Musalia Mudavadi are the leading regional choices for a running mate for William Ruto

The poll released on Monday, July 13, 2026, shows Kindiki commanding Mt Kenya but struggling to match the influence of other government and political figures outside his home region.

According to Infotrak, Kindiki leads the Mt Kenya running mate preference at 41 per cent.

However, 33 per cent of respondents in the region remain undecided, while Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru emerged as another notable named option.

The figures present Kindiki with a political warning. Although he remains the strongest choice in Mt Kenya, a sizeable section of the region has not committed to him.

Kindiki has served as Deputy President since November 2024 after replacing Rigathi Gachagua.

The Presidency currently lists him as Ruto’s deputy, Mudavadi as Prime Cabinet Secretary and Joho as Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.

Regional heavyweights emerge

At the Coast, Joho dominates the running mate preference with 60 per cent, the strongest showing recorded by any named politician in the four regions highlighted.

A further 31 per cent of Coast respondents were undecided, leaving Kindiki and the other names listed in the survey with only a small share of the regional preference.

In Nyanza, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga leads at 35 per cent, while 25 per cent of respondents said they were unsure or did not know who would strengthen Ruto’s ticket.

The finding places Wanga ahead of figures including Oburu Oginga, Kindiki, Simba Arati, Mudavadi and Joho within the region.

Western Kenya presents a different context. Although 35 per cent remain undecided, Mudavadi is the leading named choice at 28 per cent, followed by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula at 22 per cent.

Mudavadi’s showing strengthens his position as the senior government figure with the strongest running mate appeal in Western.

His office formally assists the President and Deputy President in coordinating government ministries and departments.

Kindiki’s political test

The regional breakdown indicates that Ruto’s running mate calculation could extend beyond retaining Mt Kenya support.

Joho offers strong Coast numbers, Wanga emerges as a possible bridge into Nyanza, while Mudavadi remains competitive in Western.

Kindiki’s advantage is his lead in Mt Kenya, but the large undecided bloc and Waiguru’s presence mean that even his home-region support is not completely sealed.

The survey involved 3,000 respondents and measured public opinion on the running mate most likely to strengthen Ruto’s support.

The findings do not mean Ruto has decided to replace Kindiki. They show, however, that regional voters see several political heavyweights as capable of adding more value to the 2027 ticket.