(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Kenya are satisfied with the performance of their main political leaders, according to a poll by Steadman Research Services. 75 per cent of respondents approve of Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga, and 68 per cent are content with the work of Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki.

In addition, 65 per cent of respondents approve of the way the coalition government has performed after 100 days in office.

Kenyans voted in presidential and legislative elections in December 2007. Official results gave incumbent Kibaki of the Party of National Unity (PNU) 46.64 per cent of all cast ballots, followed by opposition candidate Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) with 44.28 per cent.

Odinga’s camp complained about irregularities in the ballot count, claiming that Kibaki’s total was inflated by 300,000 votes. The allegations practically paralyzed Kenyan politics, and saw the return of violent incidents that had marred the electoral campaign.

By late Febuary, post-election violence in Kenya had claimed more than 1,000 lives. On Feb. 28—following the mediation by former United Nations (UN) secretary-general Kofi Annan—Kibaki and Odinga reached a preliminary power-sharing deal. The terms entailed the creation of the post of prime minister, who would "coordinate and supervise" government affairs. Kenya would also have two deputy prime ministers, one nominated by each member of the coalition.

Last month, British prime minister Gordon Brown pledged close to $4 million U.S. to fund peace-building efforts in Kenya. Brown referred to the convoluted presidential election while Odinga was visiting Britain, saying, "Only six months ago, Kenya stood on the brink of civil war. Kenya’s friends watched in fear as ethnic violence, displacement and insecurity gripped the country. (...) Kenya stepped away from the brink. Partly due to the leadership of president Kibaki and prime minister Raila Odinga; partly due to the mediation efforts of Kofi Annan; and partly due to strong international support for reconciliation. But most of all because the Kenyan people turned their backs on violence and chose to work together."

Polling Data

Approval Ratings after 100 Days in Office

Source: Steadman Research Services
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 2,012 Kenyan adults in the eight provinces, conducted from Jul. 6 to Jul. 11, 2008. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.

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