Uhurus approval rating up to 68% as he gains in CORDs strongholds IPSOS

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s approval rating has risen to 68% from 47% last November in the latest IPSOS poll.

The rise has been credited to development in infrastructure, education and growth in the country’s economy.

85% of Jubilee supporters approved President Kenyatta’s performance with only 34% approval rating from the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).

“The fact that a full one-third of opposition loyalists are prepared to give him such approval suggests a significant weakening in the opposition’s base,” reads the report from IPSOS.

However, 60% of opposition supporters expressed disapproval with 11% of Jubilee supporters expressing disapproval of the President.

“This suggests that that the opposition retains a considerable level of support in the country as a whole, even if this figure also represents a significant decline from November (75%).”

According to the poll, the President’s approval rating is highest in Central at 88%, followed by Rift Valley  at 71%, while in Nyanza it is at 30%.

However, President Kenyatta is yet to attain the higher figures he enjoyed previously, between 73% and 78% going back to the end of 2014.

Among those who disapprove, corruption and the economy earn the highest negatives, 39% and 19%, respectively.

In terms of levels of confidence in the top executive officials, the President scores best with 45% of Kenyans having “a lot of confidence” in him, Deputy President William Ruto was rated at 34%.

Attorney General Githu Muigai has a confidence level approval rating of 15%, with Cabinet Secretaries having an approval rating of 14%.

In comparing the current government with the previous Grand Coalition government in terms of performance in 13 policy areas, Kenyans rated the Jubilee government more positively with regard to medical and health services at 55%.

However, according to the pollster, the Jubilee government was rated “worse” especially for the cost of living at 34% more for “worse”, corruption at 61% more for “worse”, terrorism 50% and crime at 35% a  for “worse”.

2,076 Kenyans aged 18 years and above, living in urban and rural areas, spread across 41 counties were used in the survey.

The survey was conducted between June 4th -June 18th 2016.