NAIROBI, Kenya- Linda Mwananchi Movement Party Leader Edwin Sifuna has emerged ahead of DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua in TIFA Research’s presidential preference findings for the Mount Kenya region and among declared DCP supporters.
The survey places Sifuna at 32% in TIFA’s Mount Kenya zone, compared with 11% for Gachagua and 11% for President William Ruto.
Jubilee Party Leader Fred Matiang’i was placed fourth in the region at 8%, followed by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka at 6%. Twenty-one per cent of respondents in the zone were undecided.
The figures form part of TIFA’s November 2026 national survey, conducted between October 26 and November 5 among 2,036 adults.
The poll asked respondents whom they would prefer to win the 2027 presidential election, not necessarily how they intend to vote.
Sifuna ahead within DCP support base
The survey’s most striking finding for Gachagua is among respondents who identified themselves as DCP supporters.
TIFA found that 34% of declared DCP supporters preferred Sifuna as their 2027 presidential winner, compared with 25% who chose Gachagua.
Kalonzo received 12% among DCP supporters, while Matiang’i had 10%. Ten per cent were undecided, with President Ruto attracting 2%.
The findings suggest that support for DCP as a party does not automatically translate into a unified presidential preference for its leader.
DCP remains relatively strong in TIFA’s Mount Kenya party-alignment data, where it attracted 27% support.
However, it was placed fourth nationally at 9%, behind UDA at 25%, Linda Mwananchi Movement/TEP at 17% and ODM at 10%.
TIFA said DCP’s national support has declined from 16% in May 2026 to 9% in the latest survey.
Opposition supporters blame Gachagua for divisions
The poll also found that 43% of opposition supporters perceive Gachagua as the political figure most responsible for disagreements within the opposition.
President Ruto and the UDA government were cited by 15% of respondents, while Sifuna was mentioned by 7% and Kalonzo by 6%.
The result comes as opposition leaders continue discussions over a possible joint presidential ticket for the 2027 election.
Among opposition supporters, 57% said it was very likely that the Linda Mwananchi Movement and the Ukombozi opposition group would unite ahead of the election, while 22% said this was somewhat likely.
However, the timing of a joint ticket remains unsettled.
Forty-five per cent said an opposition presidential candidate and running mate should be announced between January and March 2027, while 35% preferred a decision before the end of this year.
The survey shows a changing contest in Mount Kenya, a region where Gachagua has sought to consolidate support through DCP.
But TIFA cautioned that the findings are a snapshot of public opinion during the survey period.
It said sub-sample findings, including regional and party-supporter data, carry larger margins of error than the national sample.
