- A new Swiss Poll International Research & Consultancy survey has ranked the leading candidates in four Western Kenya counties ahead of the 2027 General Election
- Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa holds a narrow four-point lead over Senator Boni Khalwale, while Bungoma shows the tightest contest in the region
- Undecided voters and other candidates account for significant shares across all four counties, leaving several races open to change
A survey by Swiss Poll International Research and Consultancy has placed incumbent and aspirant candidates ahead in all four Western Kenya counties it tracked, with the 2027 gubernatorial races in Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, and Busia showing varying degrees of competition.
The findings appear in the firm's Western Region County Governors Electability Tracking Report, which maps projected first and second positions in each county race as political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election intensifies.
Kakamega and Bungoma Races
In Kakamega, Governor Fernandes Barasa leads with 36%, against Senator Boni Khalwale's 32%. The remaining 32% falls within the undecided and others category, a bloc equal in size to Khalwale's share and large enough to alter the outcome.
Bungoma presents the closest contest of the four counties.
Tim Wanyonyi, currently serving as Westlands MP, leads with 38%, just two percentage points ahead of Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa at 36%.
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Only 26% of respondents remain undecided or favour other candidates, the lowest figure across the four counties, suggesting voters there have largely settled on their preferred candidates.
Vihiga and Busia Projections
In Vihiga, Godfrey Osotsi leads with 37%, followed by Kahi Indimuli at 32%, with 31% of respondents either undecided or backing other candidates.
Busia shows the most decisive gap in the region.
Governor Paul Otuoma commands 40% support against Vincent Sidai's 24%, a lead of 16 percentage points. Even so, 36% of Busia respondents remain undecided or aligned with other candidates, a share that exceeds Sidai's total.
Swiss Poll noted that across the Western region, the leading candidates hold advantages ranging from two to 16 points.
In Kakamega, Vihiga, and Bungoma, those leads are all in single digits, and in each of those three counties the combined undecided and others bloc is larger than the margin separating the top two candidates, leaving the races susceptible to shifts as the election draws closer.
The firm described the report as a snapshot of the current gubernatorial landscape in Western Kenya, intended to highlight the level of competition in each county ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Source: TUKO.co.ke