President William Ruto's UDA party has won close to half of registered voters in Nyanza, former Migori Governor Okoth Obado has said.
Obado who is the party's regional coordinator said Homa Bay county has registered the highest number of people who have decamped to UDA.
"Data from Homa Bay is encouraging, the county is leading in the registration of new members," he said.
"Of the over 400, 000 registered voters in the county, records at the Registrar of Political Parties show that UDA membership in Homa Bay is racing past 200,000."
Obado spoke during a UDA sensitisation meeting at Ramba Catholic Church in Siaya town ahead of the December 9, party elections.
"Some people are hurling insults saying UDA is conducting an exercise in futility. But the truth is that things are changing, " Obado said in reference to ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Last Saturday while in Siaya during an ODM membership recruitment drive, Raila told off individuals supporting other parties other than ODM.
Obado said no one can wish away the gains UDA has made in the traditional ODM bedrock.
"The hen is making noise claiming that Luos belong to one house, ODM, but wanainchi are busy joining UDA en masse," he said.
Only a paltry 1 per cent of voters in Homa Bay cast their votes in favour of Ruto in 2022.
The county gave Ruto's main challenger Raila the highest number of votes in the entire Nyanza region.
UDA is on a charm offensive to convert as many supporters as possible in Nyanza.
Obado urged Kenyans to not to be intimidated by anyone since the Constitution gives them the freedom of association.
"Just the same way we have faithfuls from different denominations, who worship on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it is the same way we should peacefully coexist with others in different parties," he said.
Obado said joining UDA will enable many more people from Nyanza to get opportunities in government after 2027 elections.
UDA Resource Mobilisation and Diaspora Affairs director Charles Matoke assured contestants in the upcoming grassroots elections that the process will be free and fair.
"We will use technology to conduct the elections. Results will be streamed by a computer and by 3:00pm we shall know the results," he said.
The elections will happen at polling stations in ward, constituency and county levels.
Any registered UDA member is eligible to vie.
