It is a windfall for Deputy President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA), after raking in over Ksh.350 million in nomination fees. This was from at least 5,000 aspirants eyeing different political seats ahead of party primaries set to take place between April 9 and April 16.
According to a breakdown seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the party has received 54 gubernatorial applications, with each aspirant coughing Ksh500,000 totaling to Ksh.27 million.
As the party readies for its nomination exercise, it has also bagged Ksh.16 million from tens of aspirants, eyeing senatorial positions.
Those seeking to vie for parliamentary seats including county women representatives and members of parliament, added to the pool Ksh.145 million, and Members of County Assembly aspirants forked out at least Ksh.158 million.
The scramble for UDA's party nomination has seen regions like Rift Valley, Mount Kenya, Western, Eastern, and the Coast register higher numbers. As a result, major metropolitan cities like Nairobi and Nakuru attracted huge numbers .
UDA National Election Board (NEB) chairman Antony Mwaura noted that Kiambu registered the highest number of aspirants in Central Kenya.
"Kiambu County has the highest number of aspirants in Mount Kenya region who have paid nomination fees. The number is 327," stated Mwaura.
The Board is conducting consultative meetings with aspirants in select counties with Mwaura assuring those eyeing different seats of a free and fair nomination process,.
"Even the incumbents are aspirants like anybody. They don't even know where the ballot papers will be printed or where the ballot boxes are. Even William Ruto, if he gets an opponent during the NDC, they are going to go for an election,' stated Mwara.
Other political parties are also racing against time as they head to the primaries. Raila Odinga's Azimio la Umoja is yet to determine if they will have joint nominations. Odinga has previously maintained that they are still considering before settling on a formula that will avert fallout.
UDA recently announced reduced nomination fees for women and people living with disabilities, which may have raised the number of aspirants.
Deputy President is currently the party's presidential candidate, with 65 gubernatorial aspirants, 80 for senatorial and 599 parliamentary positions. According to UDA, which has joined forces with the Kenya Kwanza alliance, it has received over 4,200 applications from aspirants.
