The UDA party is preparing to conduct the second phase of its grassroots election in Homa Bay this Saturday.
Homa Bay is among five counties where the party is conducting its grassroots polls after undertaking the first phase last month.
The party Nyanza regional coordinator Aggrey Otore said the second phase will take place in 40 wards in the county.
“We expect to open the polling stations by 6 am. Preparations are complete to ensure the exercise is undertaken smoothly,” Otore said.
In Homa Bay, 18,000 delegates will participate in the exercise.
They will elect 20 officials per ward and later proceed to the third phase of election where they will elect representatives at the constituency level.
Speaking to journalists in Homa Bay town on Thursday, Otore said security arrangements have been put in place to ensure the exercise is peaceful.
“Let us compete in ideas and not violence. Other parties will also have an opportunity to conduct their election,” he said.
The party official assured UDA members that the challenges of delayed disbursement of election materials which were witnessed in the first phase have been addressed.
Politician Odoyo Owidi said each ward will have a tallying centre to help in proper coordination of the exercise.
He urged members of the party to participate in the exercise peacefully without violence.
“In the first phase, we had isolated cases of violence aimed at interrupting the UDA polls. Let’s not engage in violence for a smoother exercise,” Owidi said.
He argued that a peaceful UDA poll is making the party to gain popularity in Nyanza region.
The party has already met election officials including clerks, returning and presiding officers for training ahead of the exercise.
“Nyanza region is slowly and steadily embracing other political parties like UDA. Let’s not interfere with the exercise,” he said.
