Race for Makadara Parliamentary Seat Heats Up as Aladwa, Kuria Lead in New Intouch Poll

Race for Makadara Parliamentary Seat Heats Up as Aladwa, Kuria Lead in New Intouch Poll The contest for the Makadara parliamentary seat is shaping up to be a tight and highly competitive race, according to a recent opinion poll by Intouch Research. Incumbent MP George Aladwa and businessman Edwin Kuria are emerging as the frontrunners ahead of the next election. Edwin Kuria, who serves as a Director at Sports Kenya and chairs the UDA party in Makadara Constituency, is positioning himself as the main challenger to Aladwa in what promises to be a closely watched political battle. The Intouch survey shows Aladwa leading with 38 percent support, with Kuria following at 32 percent—highlighting a race that would be tight if elections were held today. Bernard Mutura follows in third place with 11 percent, while Esther Passaris registers 8 percent. Other potential candidates account for 6 percent, and 5 percent of respondents remain undecided. Poll Results George Aladwa 38% Edwin Kuria 32% Bernard Mutura 11% Esther Passaris 8% Others 6% Undecided 5% Methodology The survey interviewed 4,000 registered voters from Makadara, drawing 1,000 respondents from each ward to ensure balanced representation. Conducted between January and February, the research followed the eviction of residents in Makongeni—an issue that had generated significant public discussion. The study maintained gender balance, with women representing half of the respondents, and captured a range of age groups to reflect the constituency’s demographic makeup. Data was collected through phone interviews, during which participants were asked about governance, political leadership, and their preferred candidate for the Makadara parliamentary seat. A Tight Race and Emerging Questions While Aladwa currently enjoys a lead, Kuria is within striking distance, making this among Nairobi’s closely watched parliamentary contests. Analysts note that the numbers indicate a fluid race, with a significant portion of voters either backing other candidates or still undecided. Both Aladwa and Kuria are expected to intensify grassroots campaigns across Makadara’s wards to consolidate support and win over undecided voters. However, the race faces a twist: Aladwa has also expressed interest in running for Nairobi’s gubernatorial seat. According to Intouch polls, he currently ranks third in the governor’s race, behind Sakaja and Babu Owino. Despite this, some of his supporters would still prefer him to defend the Makadara parliamentary seat. This raises a critical question for political observers: if Aladwa decides to pursue the governor’s seat, who stands to benefit most from his absence in the Makadara parliamentary race?