The United Democratic Alliance has waived nomination fees for persons living with disability ahead of party primaries set for April.
The elections board has also waived 50 per cent of the nomination fees for youths and women as it embarked on the process of the nationwide exercise.
Addressing the press at Simba Lodge in Naivasha over the weekend, the board members said they would abide by the new political parties law.
Chairman Antony Mwaura said the board had set their nomination guidelines in line with the IEBC requirements.
Mwaura dismissed fears that there were sacred cows who would receive direct nomination, adding that it was up to ‘Wanjiku’ to pick the best candidate.
“The party does not have any preferred candidate and all aspirants starting from the top to the lowest will have to go through the set nominations,” he said.
Mwaura added that they were working on the timelines and the nomination fees which would be fair to all seeking to join UDA.
He said that the board had set nomination fee guidelines for all categories with special consideration on special interest groups including women and youths.
“The board has waived nomination fees for all persons living with disability vying for positions in the party and approved a 50 per cent waiver for women and youth aspirants,” he said.
While calling for peaceful coexistence and campaigns, Mwaura urged UDA supporters to maintain decorum in their engagements and respect their competitors.
“The board has taken note of the IEBC gazette timelines and the just concluded Political Party’s (Amendment) Bill of 2021 and shall issue further notice to the aspirants,” he said.
On her part, UDA secretary general Veronica Maina said that they were holding a three-day strategic meeting with the board so as to come up with the rules and regulations.
Flanked by the board members, Maina said that they were keen to run a transparent, free and fair nomination process across the country in the coming months.
“The party's national election board has been officially inaugurated and it’s keen to make sure that the nominations will be free and fair as we don’t have preferred candidates,” she said.
Edited by Henry Makori
