Kindiki: UDA Grassroots Elections in 18 Counties Progressing Smoothly

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said the ongoing grassroots elections by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) across 18 counties are progressing smoothly, with strong voter turnout and minimal disruptions.

Speaking during a press conference on Saturday, Kindiki said the party was conducting grassroots elections in counties including Trans Nzoia, Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Laikipia, Nyandarua, Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu and others as part of a broader exercise aimed at strengthening the party from the grassroots level.

Kindiki noted that Nakuru County was excluded from the exercise due to the ongoing Safari Rally Kenya, with the party planning to hold elections there on March 28. The remaining counties will conduct their grassroots elections on April 9.

He said the exercise is part of UDA’s strategy to build a strong political structure by ensuring party officials at the polling station level are democratically elected by members.

“We believe the party becomes stronger when its grassroots leaders are elected by the members. These officials will have the legitimacy to represent the party and communicate its manifesto and policies at the local level,” Kindiki said.

According to the Deputy President, the party expects to elect more than 500,000 grassroots officials nationwide once the exercise is completed. The officials will later participate in ward-level elections and eventually engage directly with the party leadership to align with the party’s agenda and government progress.

Kindiki said voting began early in most areas, although a few polling centres experienced delays due to logistical challenges such as delayed delivery of electronic voting gadgets and poor road conditions caused by rains. He said the party deployed alternative transport, including motorcycles, to ensure voting materials reached polling stations on time.

Where technological challenges were experienced, the party allowed the use of manual registers as a backup to avoid postponing the elections.

Despite the challenges, Kindiki said the exercise had recorded no incidents of violence.

“As a party we have zero tolerance for violence. Anyone attempting to intimidate voters or disrupt the exercise will face strict disciplinary action,” he said.

He praised the use of digital technology in the voting process, noting that it allows voters to cast ballots within seconds and enables results to be transmitted electronically within minutes after voting closes.

However, the Deputy President confirmed that one election official died while on duty at a polling centre in Tigania West, Meru County, after reportedly suffering an asthma attack. He said the party would support the family of the deceased officer.

Kindiki described the exercise as one of the largest internal democratic processes ever undertaken by a political party in the country, noting that the 18 counties alone involve about 9,000 polling centres and hundreds of thousands of candidates competing for grassroots leadership positions.

He said the party would continue refining the process as it prepares for the next phases of the elections aimed at strengthening internal democracy.