Nairobi (Alshahid) – As the referendum date meant to decide the enactment of a new constitution in Kenya nears opinion poll survey results by Synovate on Friday indicate a marked drop in the Yes numbers by seven percent, which stood at 64% in the Synovate poll in April.

At the moment it stands that 57% of Kenyans will vote to approve the proposed constitution at the referendum, the opinion poll shows.

The draft law will be rejected by 20 % of Kenyans  while 19pc are undecided; and 4% of Kenyans indicated that they will not vote during the August 4 referendum on a new constitution, according to the latest Synovate survey released Friday.

The poll survey which covered May 22-28 period showed that 55% of No respondents cited the abortion clause, while 37% said kadhi courts was a considered issue and land was at 32% as a major reason for opposing the new law. A total of 6,017 respondents represented the sample size.

“The Yes have the lead, but this gives the No team the opportunity to make their case,” said Synovate managing director George Waititu during the release of the poll results at Laico Regency Hotel, Nairobi Friday.

As the Yes numbers dropped by 7% from 64pc in the previous Synovate poll in April, the No which by then stood at 17% has gained 3 points to reach 20%.

Last week, research firm Infotrak Harris released a poll that showed 63pc of Kenyans backing the Proposed Constitution and 21pc opposing it.

Mr Waititu attributed the drop to media coverage and heightened political activities.

“The amount of media coverage has increased. We have also seen politicians and religious leaders engaging Kenyans,” he said.

North Eastern province has the majority of those supporting the draft constitution at 88pc followed by Nyanza province at 76pc, Rift Valley 33pc and Eastern 29pc.

Rift Valley and Eastern have the most No proponents; Rift Valley is politically led by Higher Education Minister William Ruto currently leading the political wing of No campaigns, while Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is the de facto leader of Eastern and is in the Yes camp.

The poll rating of potential presidential candidates come 2012, shows Prime Minister Raila Odinga leading with 41pc of Kenyans saying they would vote for him if elections were held today.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka (13pc), President Kibaki , though constitutionally not in the race,(12pc), Higher Education minister William Ruto (9c), Gichugu MP Martha Karua (7pc), Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta (3pc), Water minister Charity Ngilu (1pc) and Saboti legislator (1pc) were preferred candidates respectively.