The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party nominations started in earnest on Thursday, April 14, in 36 counties across the country, with the party stating that plans were in place to ensure the process is free and fair.
In what has been christened Super Thursday, the Deputy President William Ruto affiliated party is expected to pick aspirants who will face off with contenders from other parties in the August 9 polls.
According to the party’s National Elections Board (NEB) chair, Anthony Mwaura, UDA has designated 15,000 polling stations, 75,000 ballot boxes, 47 county returning officers, and 200 constituency returning officers to oversee the nominations exercise. It also has 21,000 presiding officers and 52,000 poll clerks.
Further, in a bid to curb vote rigging, the UDA chair has requested the government to deploy a total of 34,680 police officers to man the polling stations.
Mwaura added that the ballot boxes and papers have enhanced security features that are tamper proof.
UDA is conducting gubernatorial nominations in 13 counties, senatorial nominations in 18 counties, Woman Representatives contests in 28 counties, parliamentary positions in 138 constituencies and MCA nominations in 834 wards.
Some of the hotly contested seats include Kiambu gubernatorial post where the current Senator, Kimani Wamatangi, former governor Ferdinand Waititu and current MP Patrick Wainaina will face off.
In Kericho county, Charles Keter will square off with Erick Mutai, James Sang and Lily Ng'ok. Peris Tobiko will seek to claim the Kajiado gubernatorial seat ticket, facing off with former National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) boss, Francis Mejja, Katoo Metito, and Rachael Macharia.
Some of the uncontested parliamentary seats include Kikuyu (Kimani Ichung'wa), Mathira (Rigathi Gachagua), Kandara (Alice Wahome), Kiharu (Ndindi Nyoro), Kimilili (Didmus Barasa), Thika (Alice Ng'ang'a) and Kabete (James Kamau).
DP Ruto, who spent the better part of Wednesday, April 13, at the Hustlers Centre, promised all contestants of a free and fair process, hailing it as a near General Election. The DP supervised the final preparations for the nominations phase.
A section of UDA aspirants has, however, expressed fears that they might be rigged out, calling upon the party to ensure a fair process.
“If there won’t be free and fair nominations, I will not participate,” Embu governor aspirant, Cecily Mbarire, stated.
Amani National Congress (ANC) will also begin their party primaries on Thursday, April 14.
