Tifa poll: Kenyans sceptical of Ruto-Raila broad-based government

ODM leader Raila Odinga and President William Ruto. (Photo: Handout)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Wednesday, September 24, 2025

The poll shows that despite efforts to present the coalition as a unifying force, scepticism remains high among citizens across the country.

A new survey by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) has revealed that many Kenyans oppose the Ruto-Raila broad-based government (BBG), saying it prioritises personal interests over the public good.

The poll shows that despite efforts to present the coalition as a unifying force, scepticism remains high among citizens across the country.

More To Read

According to the findings, 37 per cent of respondents believe the BBG puts leaders’ personal gain ahead of public interest.

Another 27 per cent said they reject the arrangement because it undermines democracy and weakens the role of the opposition. A further 17 per cent argued that the government is irrelevant to people’s daily needs and development priorities.

Other reasons cited include fears that the BBG fosters corruption (8 per cent), lack of trust in the leaders involved (5 per cent), and potential human rights violations (3 per cent).

The survey, conducted between August 23 and September 3, 2025, interviewed 2,024 Kenyans by telephone in both Kiswahili and English. Respondents’ contacts had been collected earlier through face-to-face household interviews.

The poll carries a margin of error of +/-2.17 per cent and covered nine regions: Central Rift, Coast, Lower Eastern, Mt Kenya, Nairobi, Northern, Nyanza, South Rift, and Western.

The BBG was formed on March 7, 2025, after President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga signed a memorandum of understanding at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

The coalition between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was presented as a way to confront challenges such as corruption, debt, and political instability.

The formation of the broad-based government followed President Ruto’s move on July 11, 2024, when he dismissed almost his entire cabinet after weeks of mass protests against proposed tax hikes and graft scandals.

The new arrangement was pitched as a more inclusive and stable framework for governance.

While critics see the coalition as self-serving, President Ruto has defended it as a step toward unity and national progress.

“No community, county, or region will be sidelined by the Broad-Based Government,” he said during a recent address in Nanyuki. He added that unity of purpose will help unlock the country’s true potential.