Opposition leaders now claim the ruling United Democratic Movement (UDA) will attempt to buy candidates sponsored by rival parties to drop from the race.
Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has alleged that UDA will use resources to ensure its candidates run unopposed.
Kioni claims UDA has lost popularity and isn’t ready to face the opposition party-sponsored candidates across several constituencies, as its popularity will be exposed.
“One of the strategies UDA may use in 2027 is buying candidates, whoever you field as field by as opposition. That’s why every party must prepare well,” Kioni said this morning at Spice FM’s The Situation Room.
“The parties must be prepared because the candidates will be bought like groundnuts at the market. They will be bought at all levels. UDA will seek to have more candidates unopposed because they fear the eventual casting of the ballot,” Kioni claimed.
The Jubilee party SG said it will be difficult for the ruling party to rig the forthcoming elections and thus will resort to buying candidates so as to ensure they have a majority of MPs.
He warned that individual United Opposition parties must be careful about who is given the party tickets so as not to be compromised after the nomination period has closed.
Kioni’s remarks come even as opposition leaders claim that the state is using millions of shillings in the ongoing campaigns for the various by-elections slated for next week.
Ahead of the by-elections, Ruto has successfully negotiated with opposition allied candidates to step aside for his UDA candidates in Baringo Senate, Banisa Constituency, among other areas.
“There's never been a more costly by-election like the Mbeere North constituency by-election in the history of Kenya. More than Sh200 million has already been spent in buying other candidates, buying opinion leaders, bribing voters and even elected leaders from the region,” Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi claimed.
Kibagendi claimed candidates in Mbeere North who were bought have since been appointed to plum jobs and boards in government to support the UDA candidate..
UDA has denied using public resources, with Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku recently saying his tours to Mbeere North are on a development inspection programme and not an abuse of public resources.
