ODM Party Leader Dr Oburu Odinga, after he was sworn in during the National Governing Council in Mombasa. Photo/ @odmparty/X
By Newsflash Writer
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) remains the most preferred political party in Western Kenya, according to a new opinion poll released by research firm Infotrak on Thursday, January 8, 2025, reaffirming the party’s enduring dominance in a region long regarded as a key opposition stronghold.
The findings are contained in Infotrak’s Mulembe Nation Poll, which sampled voter attitudes across five counties in Western Kenya and assessed party popularity, community concerns and broader political trends.
According to the poll, ODM enjoys the support of 25 per cent of respondents across Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and Trans Nzoia counties, placing it ahead of all other political parties in the region. The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) emerged second at 20 per cent, signaling growing inroads by the ruling party but still trailing ODM by a notable margin.
Smaller parties recorded modest support, with Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) at 7 per cent, Ford-Kenya and Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) each at 4 per cent, while Jubilee Party attracted 3 per cent. DAP-Kenya stood at 2 per cent, as Party of National Unity (PNU), United Green Movement (UGM), Maendeleo Chap Chap Party, Restore and Build Kenya Party, Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) each registered about 1 per cent support.
The poll also highlights voter uncertainty, with 9 per cent saying they support no party and 17 per cent declining to disclose their political allegiance, suggesting a sizeable portion of the electorate remains undecided or disengaged.
Issues troubling the Luhya
Beyond party politics, the survey paints a clear picture of the issues most troubling the Abaluhya community. Roads and infrastructure topped the list at 21 per cent, emerging as the single most pressing concern in national negotiations. The high cost of living followed closely at 17 per cent, reflecting the economic strain facing households.
Other major concerns include access to markets for agricultural produce at 12 per cent, revival of the sugar industry at 11 per cent, health services at 10 per cent and youth employment at 9 per cent.
Read more: Natembeya is most preferred Abaluhya kingpin- Infotrak
Education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) also ranked highly at 9 per cent, while devolution funding stood at 5 per cent and security at 3 per cent.
Analysts say these concerns underscore a strong demand for development-focused politics, with voters increasingly prioritising tangible economic and social outcomes over party loyalty alone.
How the survey was conducted
The opinion poll was conducted on December 29, 2025, using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). The survey targeted registered voters aged 18 years and above, with a total sample size of 602 respondents drawn proportionately from Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Busia and Trans Nzoia counties.
The poll had a margin of error of ±4 per cent at a 95 per cent confidence level and achieved a 100 per cent response rate. Data was processed and analysed using SPSS statistical software to ensure accuracy and reliability.
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