UDA MPs are gearing up for a showdown with their rivals as the party elects constituency-level officials next Friday.
High-flying UDA MPs are keen to win a slot at the constituency level to secure automatic delegate tickets to participate in County-level elections next month.
Stakes are high ahead of the constituency elections because politicians keen on being elected for County positions must first win positions in the constituencies.
The upcoming UDA constituency elections are also significant because those who win constituency elections will form part of the National Delegates Congress(NDC)that will pick national officials.
The polls are also significant for politicians seeking to contest for governor positions as winning constituency-level leadership will boost their chances of securing UDA tickets in 2027.
The UDA National Elections Board chairperson Anthony Mwaura says the stakes are high because for one to contest a county-level position, they must first be elected at the constituency elections.
“As an MP, you have to win at the constituency level to qualify to run for any party position in the county. MPs who are seeking county branch chairmanships have no option but to win," Mwaura said.
In Nairobi, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, who is eyeing the Nairobi Chairmanship, has to first win at the Constituency level if he hopes to face Governor Johnson Sakaja.
Gakuya is said to be enjoying the backing of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Besides Nairobi, Narok is another county where stakes are high with Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo planning to face off with Governor Patrick Ntutu for the county chairmanship.
However, Tongoyo, who is the chairperson of the National Assembly’s Security Committee, must first win at his constituency before he can qualify to face Ntutu.
In the same county, MPs Ken Aramat (Narok East) and Johanna Ng’eno (Emurr Dikkir) are battling for the county secretary-general position.
For them to qualify to contest the county-level position, they must first win elections in their constituencies.
In West Pokot, Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto will face Jackson Rotino and Mzelondo Plimo for the UDA county secretary-general position if the three succeed in Constituency polls.
Governor Simon Kachapin will face Senator Julius Murgor for the county UDA chairmanship seat.
The UDA elections board has said that only elected officials from the ward election conducted on May 18 in the five counties and nominated and elected members of the National Assembly are eligible to run.
Those seeking to run for constituency-level elections have until Tuesday next week to make their applications to the board.
“The NEB hereby issues this notice to all elected ward officials in Nairobi, Narok, West Pokot, Homa Bay and Busia regarding the forthcoming constituency election scheduled for Friday 31, May 2024," said Mwaura.
The constituency elections will see 4,200 delegates from the five counties participate with Nairobi having 1,700 delegates from 17 Constituencies.
Homa Bay has 800 from eight constituencies, Busia 700 from seven constituencies, Narok 600 from six constituencies and West Pokot 400 from four constituencies.
There are 20 positions at the constituency level, including the chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary and deputy secretary, treasurer, organising secretary, representative of youth, representative of women and representative of people with disabilities.
Others are representatives of MSMEs, representative of farmers, representative of religious groups, representative of professionals and seven members comprising at least three of the opposite gender.
The 20 officials from each constituency in a county plus governors, deputy governors, senators and woman representatives will form the county congress and elect 20 county officials amongst themselves.
All the 20 county officials and seven officials at the constituency level including the chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, deputy secretary, treasurer, organising secretary and a youth representative constitute delegates to the UDA National Delegates Congress.
Others comprising the NDC which will elect national officials include all elected and nominated leaders.