UDA to hold meeting to strategise upcoming elections

The United Democratic Alliance party will on Thursday hold a Nairobi leader meeting to strategise for the upcoming polls.

The meeting will take place at the Hustler Centre and shall be chaired by the chairperson of the UDA Elections Board Anthony Mwaura.

In a public notice released by Mwaura on Wednesday, the board has clustered the constituencies in Nairobi into four groups.

Each group will meet at different times of the day starting with Langata, Kibra, Dagoretti North and Dagoretti South between 9 am to 10 am.

This group will be followed by the second cluster of constituencies comprising Kamkunji, Starehe, Westlands and Makadara between 10 am and 11 am Kasarani, Roysambu, Ruaraka and Mathare will follow next for the leaders' meeting at the hustler centre between 11 am and 12 pm.

Thereafter, the elections board will meet leaders from Embakasi North, Embakasi South, Embakasi Central, Embakasi East and Embakasi West between 12 pm and 1 pm.

In the notice, the board said the meeting will be attended by UDA aspirants for various seats at the Constituencies level and at the County level.

All elected and nominated leaders from the Constituencies, as well as the County level, will also attend the meeting.

"This gathering is designed to discuss critical aspects of the electoral process. Your presence is vital as it will allow for an open dialogue to address any inquiries or concerns, ensuring comprehensive awareness of election procedures and guidelines," reads the notice signed by Mwaura in part.

UDA has started leaders meetings in seven counties, that make up phase one of the elections calendar for its grassroots polls.

In another notice on Monday, Mwaura had said that the meetings would take place between April 11 and April 15, 2024, at the Hustler Centre.

“In anticipation of Phase 1 of the UDA Grassroots Elections, scheduled for 26th April 2024, we are pleased to invite all county-level aspirants, Constituency-level aspirants, and both elected and nominated leaders from the Phase 1 Counties to a pivotal meeting,” the notice reads.

On Tuesday Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua held talks with the leadership UDA party ahead of planned grassroots elections.

The meeting at his official Karen Residence came a week after President William Ruto and Gachagua held a meeting of the UDA National Steering Committee which unveiled the roadmap to the party's grassroots polls.

Gachagua said the meeting was founded on consultative and collaborative engagements geared at strengthening the party and solidifying the resolve to fully implement the UDA Manifesto.

"This evening, at the Official Residence in Karen, I held a consultative meeting with top UDA officials on the progress of party activities and programmes," Gachagua posted on his X account.

Present were Chairperson Cecily Mbarire, Secretary General Cleophas Malala, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw'ah, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Vice-Chairperson Hassan Omar, Treasurer Japheth Nyakundi among other senior party officials.

The UDA NSC last week agreed to stagger its elections in four phases and named a new national elections board to spearhead the exercise.

UDA's first phase will take place on April 26, 2024, in seven counties.

They include Nairobi, Narok, West-Pokot, Busia, Homabay, Isiolo and Garissa.

UDA will hold the second phase of its grassroots election on June 22, 2024, in 13 counties namely; Mombasa, Uasin Gishu, Nyandarua, Tharaka Nithi, Machakos, Kisii, Bungoma, Siaya, Taita Taveta, Wajir, Tana River, Kwale and Marsabit.

For the third phase, the elections will be in the following 15 counties on August 10, 2024; Kiambu, Embu, Kericho, Meru, Migori, Kakamega, Nyamira, Kitui, Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu, Kajiado, Mandera, Kilifi, Murang’a and Lamu.

The last phase will take place on August 24, 2024 in 12 counties.

The counties to participate are Nakuru, Bomet, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nandi, Baringo, Turkana, Laikipia, Trans-Nzoia, Kisumu, Vihiga and Makueni