A social media post shared on Facebook on August 26, 2026, claims to show the results of a poll conducted by Ipsos Kenya, ranking the top ten most preferred gubernatorial candidates ahead of the 2027 general election. The graphic bears Ipsos branding and lists Embakasi North MP James Gakuya as the leading candidate in Nairobi with 52.56 per cent support. The post has been shared widely on social media, with Gakuya himself publishing it on his verified Facebook page.
However, a review of Ipsos Kenya's website and social media pages found no record of the alleged poll. Ipsos Kenya's latest poll, published on August 2, 2022, examined preferred presidential candidates in the August 2022 general election. The company's marketing and communications manager, Victoria Nyamunga, denied conducting the purported survey, stating that Ipsos has not conducted any poll and has no plans to do so.
The fake poll lists several incumbent governors and MPs as top candidates in their respective counties. Incumbent governors Cecily Mbarire (Embu), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), Irungu Kang'ata (Murang'a), and Kiarie Badilisha (Nyandarua) are ranked at 46, 62, 60, and 44 per cent, respectively. Othaya MP James Mugambi (Nyeri) ranks at 50 per cent, while former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru (Laikipia) ranks at 32 per cent.
The poll also lists Kirinyaga Senator James Kamau Murango (Kirinyaga) at 38 per cent, former Meru Governor Peter Munya (Meru) at 42 per cent, and Tharaka-Nithi Woman Representative Susan Mwindu (Tharaka-Nithi) at 46 per cent. Gakuya's post on Facebook sparked widespread interest, with many Kenyans commenting and sharing their thoughts on the alleged poll.
PesaCheck, a fact-checking initiative, examined the survey and found it to be fake. The organization partnered with Facebook and similar social media platforms to sort fact from fiction. PesaCheck's fact-checker Rodgers Omondi wrote the article, which was edited by senior copy editor Mary Mutisya and chief copy editor Stephen Ndegwa.
PesaCheck is East Africa's first public finance fact-checking initiative, co-founded by Catherine Gicheru and Justin Arenstein. The organization seeks to help the public separate fact from fiction in public pronouncements about numbers that shape our world. PesaCheck tests the accuracy of media reportage and focuses on pronouncements about public finances that shape government's delivery of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) public services.
The fake poll highlights the need for Kenyans to be cautious when consuming information on social media. With the 2027 general election approaching, it is essential to verify information through reputable sources to avoid spreading misinformation. PesaCheck's managing editor Doreen Wainainah approved the article for publication, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking in the digital age.
Key points
- The poll was denied by Ipsos Kenya, who stated they had not conducted any such survey.
- The fake poll listed several prominent Kenyan politicians as top candidates in their respective counties.
- PesaCheck's fact-checking initiative aims to help the public separate fact from fiction in public pronouncements about numbers that shape our world.
