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The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) organized a series of sensitization workshops across Kirinyaga County on Thursday to prepare for repeat grassroots elections slated for March 7.
The repeat polls follow a previous round held about a month ago, where some polling stations reportedly failed to meet minimum requirements, including voter turnout and compliance with demographic rules on age and gender of aspirants.
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Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru praised the initiative, noting that it reflects UDA’s commitment to being a people-centered party that listens to its members.
“Following members’ calls for greater involvement and civic education, the party took the process back to the ground. The strong turnout confirms that Kirinyaga stands firmly with UDA and the Kenya Kwanza government as we strengthen our grassroots structures,” Waiguru stated online.
At a forum in Gichugu Constituency, Salma Ochieng, a trainer from UDA headquarters, explained that the grassroots elections are structured in four levels: polling centres, wards, constituencies, and national. The workshops focused on the polling centre stage, where eligible members vote for representatives who will then serve as delegates for the ward-level elections, which feed into constituency and national delegate selections.
“We are here today to ensure every polling centre meets the minimum threshold for representatives,” Ochieng said, adding that the party had moved from manual to electronic voting to improve efficiency, transparency, and credibility.
Ishmael Bosire, a trainer for Ndia Constituency, expressed confidence that the workshops would address previous challenges and ensure that the upcoming elections meet expected standards.
Party aspirants and members welcomed the initiative. Esther Macai, a UDA aspirant from Njukiini Ward, Gichugu, said the sessions clarified eligibility criteria that were previously misunderstood, preparing them for a smooth election process.
Cecily Wairiuko, a UDA member from Kiaragana, lauded the party for responding to members’ concerns and noted that support for UDA is tied to President William Ruto’s delivery on national development projects. She also commended Governor Waiguru for visible county-level development.
The deadline for aspirant registration is February 21, ahead of the March 7 repeat elections. Party officials urged members to familiarize themselves with the guidelines and actively participate to strengthen Kirinyaga’s grassroots leadership.
