President Uhuru Kenyatta with Raila Odinga in Kisumu on June 29, 2015. [Photo/nation.co.ke]
49 days to the August general election. Political temperatures are on the rise, with two key antagonists – The National Super Alliance (Nasa) and the ruling Jubilee Party – traversing the country wooing voters to elect them.
However, by the end of the day, it is all about the numbers. The Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta led camps have outlined the key battle grounds which will determine who becomes President after August 8.
Bomet, Narok, Kisii, Meru and Tharaka Nithi are among the 13 counties that have been identified as swing vote counties.
Of the 13 swing counties, Raila won seven counties at the last election, while Uhuru ran away with six.
Nasa are basing their campaigns around the slogan “10 Million Strong”. Jubilee on the other hand are saying they deserve a second term so as to complete the several projects they have initiated.
The counties the Nasa and Jubilee campaign strategies believe the election will be won are: Nairobi, Narok, Kajiado, Turkana, West Pokot, Samburu, Trans Nzoia, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Turkana and Samburu.
“NASA says if the 2013 voting patterns are maintained, the counties won by Raila currently have 10,547,913 registered voters, compared to 7,556,609 in the counties where Uhuru prevailed,” The Star reports.
Some of the recent opinion polls have, however, suggested that neither Uhuru nor Raila will get the 50 + 1 per cent in the first round of voting.
The polls have also suggested that the ODM leader has gained ground, especially after his unveiling as the Nasa flag bearer.