All set for UDA Homa Bay constituency polls slated for Friday

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party is strengthening its foothold in Homa Bay County with its third round of elections across eight constituencies on Friday.

The party will conduct elections for delegates at the constituency level in a bid to build structures at the grassroots.

It seeks to solidify support as it marks a significant step in consolidating its position in the region.

On Thursday,  party officials had finalised preparations and all the necessary arrangements put in place ahead of the polls.

According to UDA party Nyanza Regional Coordinator Aggrey Otore, a total of 800 delegates will take part in the constituency elections.

The polls aim to elect a total of 160 coordinators who will proceed to the next phase of the election which is the county level.

"We have eight polling centres where the 20 delegates elected from each ward level will converge and participate to elect leaders at the constituency level," Otore said.

Otore assured that there was adequate security measures put in place to ensure that elections would go on smoothly in all those pooling stations without interference.

He said they hope and anticipate that there is going to be a lot of peace on that day the same as they experienced in phase one and two of the elections.

"All the elections venues are secure and today we are summing up everything to ensure that there will be no technical hitches on Friday ," he said.

He further disclosed that Karachuonyo and Ndhiwa constituencies were leading with a high number of delegates at 140 each, Kasipul has 100, Suba North 100, Kabondo Kasipul 80, Rangwe 80, Homabay town 80 and Suba South with 80.

The regional coordinator was speaking to the press where he also encouraged the party members to actively be involved in the process.

He at the same time emphasised the importance of their participation in strengthening the party at the grassroots level.

"We want to strengthen and build the party within the region so as to gain more support for President William Ruto," Otore said.

UDA politician Odoyo Owidi noted that the county has so far conducted the most peaceful elections that have been witnessed in this country.

Owidi also urged delegates who will participate in the polls to come out early enough to cast their votes through the new electronic system adapted by the UDA party which is safe, effective and convenient for the voters.

"It's a paperless system of election which is not penetrative by anybody mischievous enough to want to interference with this elections," Owidi said.

He further told their competitors that this is not the time to hold rallies where they will be participating in elections because they don't want a breach of security.

He also took the opportunity to thank the UDA party headquarters saying in each of the elections that had taken place, they provided the resources and materials earlier enough for the elections to end early.

"This time that we will be having only eight polling centers, we expect that this will be faster and move as quickly as possible," he said.

Former Rangwe MP Martin Ogindo on his part applauded the UDA members in the county for having demonstrated political maturity since the elections started at the county.

"I want to thank the people of Homa Bay for having successfully conducted the polls at the polling stations and ward levels in a manner that demonstrates political maturity," Ogindo said.

Ogindo said they have structures at the grassroots level and are looking forward to conducting the next level of elections at the Subcounty levels.

He used the opportunity to urge all the elected delegates to come out in their numbers to participate in the polls to elect people of their choice.

He said those elected will help them in creating structures of engagement with people at the grassroots levels as they go forward.

"I want the Homa Bay people to demonstrate maturity and be an example to the rest of the country that elections can be held in the Nyanza region peacefully and successfully," he said.

He noted that they want to use the Friday elections to demonstrate to the country that the people of Nyanza have come of age and have become politically tolerant and accepted other political parties in the region.

Currently, despite Homa Bay being an ODM stronghold, the leaders outlined UDA's strategy to expand its presence, saying they are currently establishing a robust structure from the grassroots levels upwards.

They noted that there will be significant growth for the party in Homa Bay County by 2026, transforming it into a battleground.