Key aspirants seeking to unseat Alfred Mutua as the governor of Machakos County in next year's general election have trashed an opinion survey whose results were released on Sunday.
Machakos deputy governor Bernard Kiala and former Kathiani MP Wavinya Ndeti yesterday termed the survey report, by pollster Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) as ‘total rubbish.’
The two leaders who have already declared publicly they will vie for Machakos gubernatorial seat in the next general election claimed the poll results had been doctored to 'salvage Dr Mutua's dwindling public appeal.'
According to the pollster, Mutua would emerge the winner in gubernatorial race with 81% rating followed by Wavinya and Kiala at 5% and 3% respectively if elections were held today.
"That is absolutely untrue. The fact of the matter is that Mutua's popularity has hit a rock bottom and the skewed poll results are a desperate attempt to change public perception on the governor," said Kiala.
Kiala said time is now ripe for the country to develop legislation relating to opinion polls to tame the rampant malpractices by majority of pollsters.
"Mutua must have obviously played a role in determining the poll's outcome because he desperately needs someone to massage his ego," he added.
Kiala, who launched a mass civic education program dubbed 'Ugatuzi na Kiala' (Kiala and devolution) two weeks ago said the 81% popularity rate awarded to Mutua by the pollster was far from the reality on the ground.
Kiala's sentiments were echoed by Wavinya who also dismissed the pollster as 'a big joker.' "With all the baggage of corruption, abuse of office and failure to address needs of residents hanging on Mutua's neck, there is no way a credible pollster can arrive at the said results," said Wavinya.
Mutua is currently fighting to contain a biting strike by doctors which has paralyzed operations in all public hospitals within the county.
At the same time Matungulu MP Stephen Mule described the poll as 'a total sham' aiming at redeeming Mutua's 'dimming star.' "We know who commissioned the polls and what they wanted to achieve but the truth cannot be replaced with lies," said the MP.
Observers say the decision by Mutua to 'technically walk out' of Wiper party which sponsored him to power will be one of his biggest undoing in his quest to defend his seat.