The Mt Kenya region has emerged as the epicentre of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots elections set for Saturday, as the ruling party grapples with unprecedented interest from aspirants seeking ward-level leadership positions.
Party records indicate that the region has posted some of the highest numbers of contestants nationally, signalling heightened political activity and deepening competition within UDA’s grassroots ranks.
Officials say the surge reflects growing political awareness and intense mobilisation as the party prepares for future electoral battles.
Nationally, a total of 310,651 aspirants have registered to contest various party positions across 20 counties, far exceeding the 237,940 available slots.
The elections will be conducted in approximately 12,000 polling centres countrywide, with close to three million registered UDA members expected to participate.
In Mt Kenya, several counties have recorded aspirant numbers well above projections. Meru County leads with over 35,000 candidates against an anticipated 21,000, while Kiambu posted 21,000 aspirants—nearly double its projected figure.
Murang’a, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Embu have also reported sharp increases, underlining the region’s strategic importance to the ruling party.
UDA officials say the figures demonstrate a maturing party structure with strong grassroots penetration. Secretary General Hassan Omar noted that the elections are designed to entrench internal democracy and strengthen party discipline ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Beyond Mt Kenya, other regions have also shown strong participation. Kakamega County in Western Kenya recorded more than 32,000 aspirants, while Nakuru reaffirmed its status as a key battleground with over 30,000 candidates. Rift Valley counties such as Bomet, Nandi and Uasin Gishu also posted significant numbers.
Overall, more than 223,000 aspirants will face competitive races, while about 80,000 candidates are unopposed, highlighting a mix of rivalry and strategic consensus within the party.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah assured members that the exercise will be peaceful and transparent, revealing that UDA has invested approximately Sh750 million in electronic voting technology to ensure swift and credible results.
Saturday’s polls are now being viewed as a defining test of UDA’s organisational capacity and grassroots strength, with political observers closely watching turnout and outcomes across the country.
