Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has emerged as the early favourite in the 2027 gubernatorial race, according to a new voter opinion poll by ISS Africa.
The survey, conducted between October 22–24, 2025, shows Kang’ata enjoying an average support of 39.2%, with overwhelming backing from his home turf Kiharu (53.76%), Mathioya (42.9%), and Maragwa (44.11%).
Former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau follows closely, buoyed by strong support in Kigumo (44.95%), while Stanley Kamau is emerging as a steady contender with evenly spread backing across Kandara, Gatanga, and Mathioya.
The poll, which sampled 1,067 registered voters across all seven constituencies, carries a ±3% margin of error.Analysts say Kang’ata’s dominance is clear but also concentrated, meaning any dip in turnout in his strongholds could shake up the race.
Meanwhile, his challengers are banking on swing zones like Kandara and Gatanga to narrow the gap.
Stanley Kamau stands out as one of the surprise candidates, having not officially declared his bid but steadily gaining recognition through his grassroots work with Ahadi Kenya Trust, an organization credited with major strides in jigger eradication and poverty reduction across the county.
With the numbers in, Murang’a’s 2027 race is shaping up to be one to watch, a battle of loyalty, strategy, and momentum.
