Kakamega Senator Boniface Khalwale has taken a clear lead in an online poll on the preferred candidate for Kakamega governor in the 2027 General Election, according to results released by Mwelekeo Insights on Monday, August 17, 2026. Khalwale recorded 37.8 per cent support, placing him ahead of former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, who came second with 20.8 per cent.
The figures show Khalwale with a 17 percentage point advantage over Malala as several well-known political figures compete for public support ahead of the next election.
Khalwale Leads the Field
Khalwale, who is associated with the United People’s Movement (UPM), emerged as the leading choice among participants in the survey. His 37.8 per cent support places him well ahead of the other candidates included in the poll.
Malala followed in second place with 20.8 per cent.
The former senator has remained an active figure in Kakamega politics and his position in the survey places him as Khalwale’s closest challenger at this stage.
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula came third with 12.5 per cent support.
Savula is associated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and is already part of the county’s current leadership.
The sitting Kakamega Governor, Fernandes Barasa, recorded 10.4 per cent support.
Barasa is associated with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and is seeking to remain a significant figure in the county’s political contest as attention turns towards 2027.
Former Member of Parliament Christopher Aseka followed with 8.9 per cent, while Samuel Omukoko of the Farmers Party of Kenya (FPK) received 5.3 per cent.
ODM politician Elsie Muhanda completed the list with 4.2 per cent support.
Competition Remains Open
Although Khalwale holds the strongest position in the poll, the results also show that a number of other political figures continue to attract support from voters taking part in the online survey.
Malala’s 20.8 per cent places him 17 percentage points behind Khalwale. Savula is another 8.3 percentage points behind Malala, while Barasa trails Savula by 2.1 percentage points.
The gap between the candidates highlights the different levels of support recorded by each contender. However, the figures represent the views of participants at the time the online survey was conducted and do not determine what will happen during the actual election.
The Kakamega governor contest is likely to attract more attention as political parties and individual candidates begin positioning themselves for the 2027 General Election.
The county remains an important political centre in Western Kenya, with established politicians expected to play a major role in shaping the region’s political direction.
The presence of the sitting governor, deputy governor, a former senator and other experienced politicians in the poll points to a competitive race if the current interest continues.
Mwelekeo Insights
Mwelekeo Insights conducted the online Kakamega County 2027 Governor Survey, which attracted 1,714 valid ballots.
The firm reported zero rejected ballots and a 100 per cent turnout among the participants who took part in the survey.
The research firm specialises in collecting and analysing public views on politics, governance, economic trends, social issues, business and consumer behaviour.
The results provide a picture of public sentiment among those who participated in the online poll. They should not be taken as a prediction of the final 2027 election outcome, since political preferences can change as campaigns develop, candidates make their positions known and voters consider different issues
Khalwale holds the strongest position in the Mwelekeo Insights survey, with Malala, Savula, Barasa and the other candidates trailing behind as the race for the Kakamega governor position begins to take shape.
