Babu Owino and Agnes Kagure Surge Ahead in New Nairobi Gubernatorial Popularity Survey Results

New Mizani Africa poll shows Babu Owino and Agnes Kagure leading the Nairobi gubernatorial race as Governor Sakaja's popularity falls to 16.6%.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 8:06 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

Fragmented Field Emerges in Race for City Hall

The political landscape in Nairobi has entered a state of flux as new polling data suggests a highly competitive environment for the 2027 gubernatorial seat. According to a survey released by Mizani Africa, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has secured the top spot with 24.3% support, though the firm noted that a dominant frontrunner has yet to truly established themselves. The findings highlight a fragmented electorate where several key contenders are separated by narrow margins, setting the stage for an intense campaign period as the General Election approaches.

Incumbent Struggles Amid Performance Dissatisfaction

Governor Johnson Sakaja currently finds himself in a precarious position, ranking fourth in the popularity stakes with just 16.6% of the vote. The poll indicated that while the Governor maintains a performance score of 38.4%, this moderate satisfaction level is failing to translate into electoral strength. Having recently navigated the waters of potential impeachment threats, Sakaja faces the significant challenge of converting his administrative record into a viable re-election mandate against surging rivals.

Prominent Challengers Gain Significant Traction

Businesswoman Agnes Kagure has emerged as a formidable second place contender, trailing the lead by less than three percentage points with a 21.5% rating. Not far behind is James Gakuya, a close associate of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who holds 18.1% of the preferred vote. The rise of these figures suggests that voters are looking toward both established political operators and private sector leaders to address the capital's complex urban management issues.