Constitutional amendments top UDA Bomas meeting

Ruto is keen to build UDA into a gigantic machine that will propel his bid for a second term

In Summary

• It is expected that the party will be seeking to expand its top brass leadership to strengthen structures ahead of the 2027 polls.

• Already there are reports that the NGC will approve changes to the constitution to create two more slots for the deputy party leader.

Delegates await arrival of President William Ruto at Bomas auditorium on Friday, September 29, 2023.
Delegates await arrival of President William Ruto at Bomas auditorium on Friday, September 29, 2023.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A

President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will on Friday front a raft of amendments to the party's constitution.

A programme released by the party shows that part of the agenda for the National Governing Council (NGC) meeting underway at Bomas is to amend the Constitution.

While the specific amendments have not been disclosed, it is expected that the party will be seeking to expand its top brass leadership to strengthen structures ahead of the 2027 polls.

President Ruto is keen to build UDA into a gigantic machine that will propel his bid for a second term as the county's chief executive.

The party's vice chairperson Hassan Omar will lead the more than 2,000 delegates in passing the amendments seen as crucial in holding the party together amid quiet squabbles.

Already delegates have arrived at the Bomas auditorium in readiness for the business with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua already in the precincts.

President Ruto who is the UDA party leader is expected to make his way into Bomas shortly to lead one of the party's major assignments after the 2022 polls.

Already there are reports that the NGC will approve changes to the constitution to create two more slots for the deputy party leader.

Currently, Gachagua is the sole deputy party leader.

Delegates attending the key meeting will also be taken through a simulation exercise of how the December elections will be conducted electronically.

The UDA national secretariat will demonstrate to the delegates who comprise all party elected and nominated leaders how the grassroots elections will be carried out using a digital system.

The Cleophas Malala-led secretariat will simulate how results will be transmitted from polling stations to the county tallying centres and then to the National tallying centre.

The NGC is an organ that brings together all leaders elected on the UDA party ticket.

At the Bomas auditorium, UDA has set up 47 desks for the simulation exercise with the party seeking to demonstrate the foolproof system that it bets on to deliver credible free and fair elections.

The party is the country's largest single political outfit by the number of elected leaders with President Ruto under pressure to guarantee fairness in UDA's first ever grassroots and national elections.

Party grassroots elections have previously become a deadly exercise that has triggered bitter and acrimonious fallouts which have gone ahead to affect their performance at national elections.

Those attending the meeting include all governors, Senators, members of the National Assembly and Members of the County Assemblies elected on the UDA ticket.

The UDA party is also holding the key meeting amid perceived rifts over calls to have all constituent parties in the Kenya Kwanza government merge ahead of the 2027 polls.

Ruto, who is keen for a reelection in 2027 is seeking to build momentum by first fastening loose nuts within his UDA outfit which threaten his political ambitions.

Delegates await the arrival of President William Ruto at Bomas auditorium for the United Democratic Alliance Party NDC on September 29, 2023
Delegates await the arrival of President William Ruto at Bomas auditorium for the United Democratic Alliance Party NDC on September 29, 2023
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A

Inside Bomas auditorium where United Democratic Alliance Party is holding its NDC on September 29, 2023
Inside Bomas auditorium where United Democratic Alliance Party is holding its NDC on September 29, 2023
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Inside Bomas auditorium where United Democratic Alliance Party is holding its NDC on September 29, 2023
Inside Bomas auditorium where United Democratic Alliance Party is holding its NDC on September 29, 2023
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
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