UDA wants to use their upcoming April 12 grassroots elections to entrench the party in the Coast region.
Members, especially candidates for the various positions in the grassroots polls, have been asked to ensure they collectively get 200,000 new members in major counties like Mombasa and Kilifi and at least 100,000 in the other four coastal counties.
The high number of possible recruits, coupled with the collaboration with ODM, which is popular in the region, will significantly enhance the chances of President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid.
Coast has become a vital vote bloc for Ruto and his week-long visit points to the importance he attaches to it.
The President has camped at the Coast since last Friday, launching projects, inspecting others and signing development deals aimed at enhancing the lives of residents. Last Friday, at Senate Speaker Amason Kingi’s father’s burial in Magarini, Ruto expressed dissatisfaction with the rate of the region’s development, insinuating it is lagging behind.
“I am here from today until next Saturday. I will be here at the Coast. And I am here for development,” Ruto said.
“I am here to push until we make sure Coast is developed as other regions in Kenya.”
The President launched several projects including electrification, roads, water and affordable housing. On Wednesday, Mary Muting’a, UDA National Elections Board member in charge of Coast, said Ruto wants to work with everybody including those at the grassroots level.
She urged Kenyans to join UDA.
“We are doing these elections because the President wants to work with everybody from the grassroots,” Muting’a said.
UDA has attached special importance to the Coast.
Two weeks ago, Secretary General Hassan Omar, who hails from Mombasa, was in Lamu during the homecoming party of newly installed UDA deputy party leader Issa Timamy, the Lamu governor.
Timamy ascended to the position following the dissolution of Amani National Congress.
The region now has two powerful figures in the ruling party. Omar said UDA intends to end marginalisation.
