President William Ruto’s charm offensive in the broad-based government is finally bearing fruit as many Kenyans have expressed support for his reelection bid.

This comes even as both the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) continue to enjoy the bigger portion of the political chessboard at 16 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.

According to the latest TIFA report released on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, 88 per cent of Kenyans have expressed intention to vote for the broad-based government in the 2027 General Elections.

“Perhaps because of the interest in the campaigns and outcomes of the nearly two-dozen by-elections of November 27, the slight decline in the expressed intention to vote in the 2027 election as seen in the results of TIFA’s August survey, as compared with those of May, has now been ‘corrected’ with a modest increase as compared with the most previous survey,” TIFA noted.

In contrast, 85 per cent of Kenyans oppose the broad-based arrangement, and they instead expressed intentions to vote for the United Oppostion which is already tightening its camp to unseat President William Ruto.

Game of numbers

Both the opposition and Ruto’s camps are expected to enter the contest to woo the 59 per cent of Kenyans who are still undecided on 2027, and they support neither front.

“As noted previously, however, such expressed intentions are not a reliable indication of voter turnout with those elections still so distant, though actual turnout in the recent November by-elections give some ‘hint’ of Kenyans’ interest in voting,” the survey observes.

As for Ruto, he is keen on extending an olive branch to his staunch critics while at the same time presenting a bag of goodies to ODM turf and other regions.

Even more, he has already shown readiness to negotiate with ODM ahead of 2027 to beef up his camp and troops for the upcoming contest, which the opposition is looking forward to unseating him.

However, questions linger on whether the opposition will be able to maintain unity amid concerns over an internal rift with the former Deputy President being accused of using threats and intimidation to dominate.

If the just-concluded by-election is anything to go by, then the opposition should brace for a serious contest from the broad-based government’s brigadiers. For now, it is a game of wait and see who will be able to move numbers ahead of the polls.