UDA delegates elect 20 officials in Homa Bay

Acting UDA deputy coordinator in Homa Bay County Kennedy Ongati voting during the UDA Homa Bay County elections at the UDA headquarters in Homa Bay town. UDA party concluded its grass root elections in Home Bay County on Monday as one of the strategies for battling ODM party in its stronghold. [James Omoro, Standard]

UDA concluded grassroots elections in Homa Bay county on Monday as part of the strategies to gain ground in the perceived ODM turf.

At least 20 UDA officials including the county chairperson, secretary and treasurer were elected.

The election was conducted peacefully at UDA offices in Homa Bay town where 159 delegates participated in the exercise.

The party National Elections Board official Halake Diida said 44 candidates vied for various positions.

Diida noted that there were no technical hitches during the election.

“The election has taken place in a peaceful environment. This gave every candidate an opportunity to cast their votes,” he said.

He was confident that the peaceful elections allowed the will of the people to prevail.

“The transparency in the election will enable every candidate to get the number of votes they deserve. This will enhance the will of the people,” Diida said.

Former ODM leader Raila Odinga’s aide Silas Jakakimba who decamped to UDA was optimistic that the election will enable the ruling party to outshine ODM in membership registration in the county.

Jakakimba said UDA had put in place all structures to ensure it gains ground in the county.

“UDA has already elected its officials at the polling station, ward, in all the eight constituencies in Homa Bay and we are doing the county elections today. The structures will enable it to outwit ODM both in membership and political seats come next general election,” he said.

The former Raila aide who has declared interest in UDA secretary post in the county said the stiff competition he is facing shows that the party is strong in the region.

“I am facing stiff competition in the race because UDA is becoming stronger every day. Let Homa Bay residents continue joining UDA because the party leader, President William Ruto, means well for us,” Jakakimba said.

Kennedy Obuya who is vying for the party chairmanship post in the county was optimistic that UDA will register more than 300,000 members come 2027.

“We are committed to undertaking membership registration and we are going to resume immediately after the elections,” Obuya said.

The elected officials will co-ordinate activities of the party in the county.