Majority of Mt Kenya voters prefer Matiang’i over Gachagua as their presidential candidate – Infotrak
By David Nthua, July 13, 2026Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i has emerged as the most preferred presidential candidate in Central Kenya, according to the latest Infotrak Research and Consulting survey.
The poll released on Monday, July 13, 2026, places Matiang’i at 19 per cent in the region, six percentage points ahead of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who received 13 per cent.
President William Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua tied at 12 per cent each, while Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna received 11 per cent.
Matiang’i’s Central Kenya rating is seven percentage points higher than his national presidential preference rating of 12 per cent.
The survey also shows that 26 per cent of respondents in Central Kenya remain undecided, making the region home to the largest bloc of voters who are yet to settle on a presidential candidate.
Ruto leads nationally
Despite Matiang’i’s lead in Central Kenya, Ruto remains the most preferred presidential candidate nationally at 32 per cent.
Kalonzo follows with 13 per cent, while Matiang’i and Sifuna tie at 12 per cent each.
Gachagua received four per cent, followed by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino at three per cent and former Chief Justice David Maraga at two per cent.
People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua received one per cent, while other possible candidates collectively attracted one per cent.
The survey further found that 18 per cent of respondents were undecided, while three per cent declined to reveal their preferred presidential candidate.
The figures leave Ruto as the clear frontrunner but below the 50 per cent threshold required to win a presidential election in the first round.
They also show that the opposition vote remains divided among Kalonzo, Matiang’i, Sifuna, Gachagua and other potential candidates, with none emerging as a dominant national challenger.
Matiang’i’s support
Besides Central Kenya, Matiang’i received 17 per cent support in Nyanza and 16 per cent in Nairobi.
His strongest showing across age groups was among voters aged between 36 and 45 years, where he received 14 per cent.
Matiang’i also attracted 13 per cent support among male respondents compared to 10 per cent among female respondents.
The survey was conducted among 3,000 adult Kenyans across all 47 counties between June 22 and June 26, 2026.
It had a margin of error of plus or minus 1.79 percentage points at a 95 per cent confidence level.
Matiang’i currently serves as the Jubilee Party’s deputy leader and has been endorsed by the party as its preferred presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.