UDA CONDUCTS REPEAT PHASE III GRASSROOTS ELECTIONS IN 18 COUNTIES AMID SMOOTH PROCESS AND CALLS FOR PEACE.
BY NJOKI KARANJA.
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on Saturday conducted repeat Phase III grassroots elections across 18 counties in an effort to finalize one of the party’s largest internal democratic exercises since its formation.
Party officials, speaking during a media briefing addressed by Kithure Kindiki, said the repeat polls were organized to address gaps identified during earlier rounds of the elections. These included areas where there were insufficient candidates or where some aspirants failed to meet registration requirements such as submitting the required signatures or completing their applications before the deadline.
According to the party leadership, the grassroots elections are part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening the party’s internal structures and building a strong nationwide political base.
Officials said that once the exercise is completed, the party expects to have more than half a million grassroots officials serving in various leadership positions across the country.
“We have undertaken this exercise so that eventually we will have more than half a million grassroots party officials across the country,” party representatives said during the briefing.
The leadership indicated that after the elections, the party will organize face-to-face engagements with all elected grassroots officials to familiarize them with the party’s ideology, manifesto and the government’s development agenda. The officials will also be tasked with communicating the party’s policies, achievements and future plans to citizens at the local level.
The exercise has involved significant logistical planning, with elections in the ongoing phase taking place in more than 9,000 polling centers across the 18 counties. Approximately 500,000 candidates are competing for about 150,000 grassroots positions.
To streamline the process, UDA introduced an electronic results transmission system that allows polling stations to submit results directly to the national party office. Officials said the technology is expected to speed up the tallying process, with results likely to be received within minutes after voting closes.
“Within less than half an hour to one hour after the voting closes, we expect to have results from across the counties,” the officials noted.
However, the exercise was marked by tragedy after a returning officer collapsed and died while on duty at a polling station in Nairobi. Preliminary reports indicate the officer suffered a heart attack while overseeing the electoral process.
The party leadership extended condolences to the family and pledged to support them during the difficult period.
“We want to extend our sympathies to the family. She lost her life while serving the party in this exercise, and we will stand with the family,” officials said.
Despite the incident, UDA reported that the elections have largely proceeded peacefully, with no cases of violence recorded so far. The party reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward violence, warning that any candidate or supporter involved in disruptive behavior would face disciplinary action.
“Democracy is about persuasion and presenting your agenda to the people, not violence,” party officials emphasized.
The grassroots elections are expected to culminate in the selection of approximately 500,000 party officials nationwide once all phases of the process are completed. Party leaders expressed confidence that the exercise will strengthen UDA’s grassroots structures and enhance its ability to mobilize citizens while advancing its development agenda across the country.
