Nasa flag bearer Raila Odinga. He has been rated as the highest single individual contributor to Kenya's democracy in a new survey.[Photo: buzzkenya.com]
Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga has been rated the highest single individual contributor to Kenya's democracy in a new poll released on Thursday.
According to the Sauti za Wananchi survey conducted by Twaweza East Africa, Raila polls at 14%, only coming second to the opposition parties which polled the highest at 28%. President Uhuru Kenyatta ranks distant fifth at 7%. Civil society groups and non-governmental organisations ranked third with 12% approval. The media was fourth at 10 percent.
Other organisations collectively polled at 13% while 14 percent said they don’t know who the champions of democracy are.
The survey which was conducted on December 1-30 last year, also reveals that 43% of
Kenyans do not understand what democracy is while almost
half believe the country is not democratic enough. One percent know what democracy is, but have no idea if it is being practised. Four per cent feel there is completely no democracy.
Women, at 59 percent, account for the largest number of people who don’t know what democracy is while men are at 27 percent.
A total of 1,714 respondents aged 18 years and above were interviewed on the phone. The survey had a 95 percent confidence level and a margin of error of +/-2.37.
While releasing the survey, Director of Data and Voice at Twaweza John Mugo, said that going by these findings, the government has reason to be concerned.
"Citizens will lose hope and give up if they are met with deaf ears or unresponsive authorities,” he said.