NAIROBI, Kenya — The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has announced that it will conduct nationwide ward-level grassroots elections as the ruling party moves to strengthen its organisational structures ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The exercise, to be overseen by the party’s National Elections Board (NEB), marks the next phase of UDA’s internal elections following the completion of polling centre-level elections held across the country.
According to the party, the ward elections will be conducted in all 1,450 wards, with officials elected at the polling centre level forming the electoral college that will choose members of the UDA Ward Congress.
Grassroots Structures
In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Elections Board said the process is anchored in the UDA Constitution and is intended to deepen grassroots participation while strengthening the party’s operational structures.
The party said more than 543,000 grassroots officials were elected during the recently concluded polling centre elections, which it described as the most elaborate grassroots exercise it has undertaken.
At each polling centre, party members elected 20 representatives drawn from various interest groups.
These include:
- Three farmers’ representatives.
- Four representatives of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
- Three professionals.
- Two ordinary party members.
- Three religious representatives.
- Four youth representatives.
- One representative of Special Interest Groups (SIGs).
The elected officials will now constitute the electoral college responsible for electing ward-level party leadership.
Preparations for 2027
The National Elections Board, chaired by Anthony Mwaura, said the exercise is aimed at enhancing UDA’s grassroots operational architecture as the party prepares for the next General Election.
The board added that special mechanisms have been put in place to accommodate the unique democratic dynamics in Kenya’s North Eastern region to ensure the elections are inclusive and representative.
“The process, anchored in the UDA Party Constitution, is designed to strengthen the Party’s grassroots operational architecture ahead of the 2027 General Election,” the board said.
Party Leadership Present
The announcement followed a meeting of the National Elections Board attended by its vice-chairperson, Nominated MP Ali Abdisirat Khalif, alongside other board members.
The party did not immediately announce the dates for the ward-level elections but indicated that preparations are underway.