160 officials elected in Homa Bay as UDA grassroots election concludes

Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero votes in Rangwe, Homa Bay, during the UDA grassroots election.  [James Omoro,  Standard]

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has elected 160 substantive officials to oversee its affairs in the eight constituencies in Homa Bay County.

This is after the party concluded its grassroots election where 20 officials were elected in each constituency.

In the election, former Rusinga MCA Paul Okuku Miregi became the UDA chairman in Suba North Constituency.

Miregi is a seasoned politician who was elected MCA on an ODM party ticket in 2017 but later decamped to UDA.

Stephen Sangira who vied the Suba South parliamentary seat as an independent candidate in the last General election was elected the party chairman in his constituency.

Former Councilor Silus Okinyi Rao is now the chairman of Kabondo Kasipul Constituency.

Ted Odero is the party chairman in Ndhiwa Constituency, Phoebe Adoyo (Karachuonyo), David Akama (Rangwe), Franklin Oluoch (Homa Bay Town) and Arthur Aoko (Kasipul).

UDA National Elections Board ( NEB) member Halake Diida who presided over the polls in Homa Bay County gave the chairmen provisional certificates.

Diida said the election was conducted peacefully and fairly and that no candidate had raised any complaints of being rigged out in the election.

“We have held credible and verifiable elections. Nobody has challenged our election results and I believe it has reflected the will of UDA members in all the eight constituencies in Homa Bay County,” Diida said.

Diida said the accuracy and credibility of the election were enabled by digital technology used in the voting exercise. The delegates voted using an electronic gadget, contrary to other elections which involve casting votes using ballot papers.

Diida said electronic voting prevented cases of ballot paper stuffing.

“Ballot paper stuffing is a common electoral malpractice in polls but our election was devoid of paper. Voting using the electronic gadget enabled us to get accurate and real-time results,” Diida said.

He said they had given a window period of two weeks for anybody with a grievance to file complaints with the party disputes tribunal committee to announce the date for electing Homa Bay County officials.

“The 160 officials who have been elected will become delegates in the election of county officials,” Diida added.