UDA leaders embrace negotiated democracy in Taita Taveta polls

Taita Taveta Woman Representative Lydia Haika. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leaders in Taita Taveta county have agreed on negotiated democracy to avert a fallout during the party grassroots elections slated for June 28.

The county Woman Representative Lydia Haika said the party will not conduct elections to pick branch chairman after they adopted consensus.

Haika revealed that they have resolved their internal differences amicably without involving the national office.

Speaking after receiving defectors from Azimio at Mwatate CDF hall Monday, the Woman Rep said under the new arrangement, she will be the UDA Taita Taveta branch chairperson while her competitor, Simon Mwachila will be vice chairperson.

Mwachia who unsuccessfully vied for the Wundanyi parliamentary seat on Jubilee Party ticket was among the 15 defectors who joined the UDA.

Others were losers in the 2022 General Election including former Woman Representative Joyce Wanjala Lay who lost to Haika in 2022 General Election.

“We have embraced internal solutions during the party grassroots polls to avoid divisions and fallout in the party. We are also appealing to others vying for the various positions in their respective wards and constituencies to follow suit and respect each other,” she Haika.

“We have extensively discussed and agreed with Mr Mwachia that I will be the party’s branch chairperson and he will be my vice. When I win a national position later this year, I will relinquish the branch position for him,” she said.

“Grassroots elections can be divisive and a threat to the party and that is why we have come up with a peaceful way for the branch officials without going to the ballot,” added Haika.

Mwachia said they have agreed with Haika to work together to steer the party ahead. “We have to abandon competing and vested interests for the sake of the party,” he said.

The grassroots polls come after UDA performed poorly in the last General Election in the county that overwhelmingly voted for Azimio.

UDA only won the Woman Rep and Rong’e ward seats.

Haika said the party has gained ground in the region and vowed to wrestle the county from the opposition.

“We are holding the polls to not only strengthen the party at the grassroots level but also strategize for President William Ruto’s re-election bid in the 2027 General Election,” she said.

At the same time the Woman Rep called for political tolerance and asked leaders to preach peace and unity.

Haika further urged President William Ruto to work harmoniously with his deputy Rigathi Gachagua warning that disunity among could jeopardise the Kenya Kwanza development agenda.

“We want to see the president and his deputy working together and focusing on the development agenda of making roads, markets and electricity. We should now be talking about improving the lives of Kenyans and when we see our leaders fighting those who elected us become furious,” she said.

Meanwhile, UDA women leaders have resolved to support and spearhead the government development agenda at the grassroots.

Led by the county UDA women summit chairperson Seraphine Charo, they resolved to win more support for the ruling party and vie for positions in the grassroots polls.