Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has emerged as the leading candidate in the city’s gubernatorial race according to a new opinion poll released by Darubini Research Firm ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The survey places Sakaja at 48 per cent support, ahead of Embakasi North MP James Gakuya who garnered 28 per cent while Embakasi East MP Babu Owino came third with 17 per cent support.
According to Darubini Research expert Dunya Barbara, Sakaja’s growing popularity has largely been driven by key county initiatives including the Dishi na County school feeding programme, Nairobi Central Business District refurbishment projects and youth empowerment initiatives rolled out by the county government.
Barbara said the governor continues to enjoy strong backing among middle-class voters due to visible development projects and employment opportunities targeting young people.
“From our research, Sakaja enjoys strong support from the middle class largely because of major projects like Dishi na County. As for Babu Owino, he commands significant support among the youth, especially university students,” said Barbara.
The survey also noted that more than 6,000 youths have reportedly benefited from opportunities created under the county’s environment and inspectorate departments.
James Gakuya’s support base was largely associated with Mount Kenya voters living within Nairobi, while Babu Owino maintained popularity among university students and residents living in informal settlements.
The findings come as political activities continue to intensify across the country with aspirants positioning themselves ahead of the next general election.
In Kisumu County, Senior Counsel Tom Ojienda emerged as the leading gubernatorial aspirant with 40 per cent support.
The survey found that many respondents view Ojienda as the most suitable successor to Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o who is currently serving his final term in office.
However, the report also points to a potentially competitive succession battle within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), especially with Deputy Governor Mathews Owili presenting himself as the continuity candidate for the current administration’s development agenda.
The findings further suggest that internal ODM politics could significantly shape the final gubernatorial contest in Kisumu amid growing interest surrounding Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga who received 17 per cent support in the poll.
Darubini POLL said the survey forms part of its ongoing national public opinion tracking initiative ahead of the 2027 elections.
The survey was conducted between May 16 and May 19, 2026 through household face-to-face interviews across selected counties.
According to the research firm, 500 Kenyan adults were interviewed in every county included in the analysis for the gubernatorial and senate races.
The counties surveyed include Nairobi, Kisumu, Kilifi, Kakamega, Nakuru, Kwale and Mombasa.
The report further revealed growing political awareness among Kenyan voters, especially in urban centres where residents are increasingly paying attention to leadership records, development projects and service delivery by elected leaders.
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