Meet Dr. Tom Wolf: Kenya's Foremost Public Opinion Analyst and Political Researcher
Meet Dr. Tom Wolf: Kenya's Foremost Public Opinion Analyst and Political Researcher
Excerpt/: Explore the life, work, and impact of Dr. Thomas P. Wolf—Kenya’s leading public opinion pollster. From academia and democracy governance to Afrobarometer and music, Dr. Wolf’s journey is as inspiring as it is insightful.
Dr. Thomas P. Wolf is a prominent figure in Kenya's public opinion polling and political analysis landscape. With over 35 years of experience, his insights have significantly shaped the way the public, media, and policymakers grasp the political dynamics within East Africa.
His journey began in the 1970s as a Peace Corps teacher, where his enthusiasm for East Africa blossomed into a lifelong commitment. Dr. Wolf earned his M.A. in African Studies from Ohio University, followed by a Ph.D. in Comparative Politics from the University of Sussex. His doctoral research, rooted in extensive fieldwork, focused on political leadership along the Kenya Coast.
Throughout his career, Dr. Wolf has taken on various influential roles—ranging from Lecturer at the University of Nairobi to Democracy Advisor at USAID Kenya. He later became a key player at The Steadman Group, which evolved into Synovate and Ipsos, where he was instrumental in conducting national surveys, crafting methodologies, and spearheading public opinion polling that defined electoral cycles in Kenya.
Currently, as an Independent Research Consultant at TIFA Research, Dr. Wolf continues to deliver insightful analysis and data-driven perspectives on Kenya's socio-political terrain. He has collaborated with global organizations such as the UNDP, Ford Foundation, and DANIDA, among others.
Outside of his research pursuits, Dr. Wolf is also a devoted musician, leading the Elephant Grass band, which brings a lively rhythm to a life deeply immersed in analysis and impact.
Keywords: Dr. Tom Wolf, Kenya public opinion polls, political analysis in East Africa, TIFA Research, democracy in Kenya
Hashtags: #TomWolf #KenyaPolitics #PublicOpinion #AfricanResearch #TIFAResearch
Source articles:
MAST Research. (n.d.). Dr. Thomas P. Wolf. MAST Research. Retrieved April 6, 2025, from https://mastresearch.co.ke/teams/thomas-p-wolf/
The Elephant. (n.d.). Thomas P. Wolf, Author at The Elephant. The Elephant. Retrieved April 6, 2025, from https://www.theelephant.info/author/twolf/
Kenyans.co.ke. (2022, September 22). Tom Wolf: How Visiting US Student Became Kenya’s Lead Expert on Opinion Polls. Kenyans.co.ke. https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/77942-tom-wolf-how-visiting-us-student-became-kenyas-lead-expert-opinion-polls