450,000 Candidates Set to Vie for UDA Party Positions in Phase II Grassroots Elections

 By Gedion Nzyoki - 

  • The United Democratic Alliance will hold Repeat Phase II Grassroots Elections across 18 counties
  • About 450,000 candidates are expected to contest various grassroots positions
  • Party officials say the exercise aims to strengthen structures and enhance inclusivity using digital voting systems

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 22, 2026 — The United Democratic Alliance is set to conduct one of its largest internal democratic exercises yet, with about 450,000 candidates expected to compete in the party’s Repeat Phase II Grassroots Elections scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 2026, across 18 counties.

Cecily Mbarire, Hassan Omar Hassan, Executive Director Nicodemus Bore, Deputy Executive Director Brian Higgins Mbugua, and other party officials address the press at the party headquarters. Photo: United Democratic Alliance (Facebook)

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday morning, party Chairperson Cecily Mbarire said the elections will be held in Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Kisii, Bungoma, Makueni, Machakos, Kitui, Isiolo, Marsabit, Taita Taveta, Lamu, Tana River, Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa, and Turkana counties.

Kajiado County will hold its grassroots elections separately on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

According to the party, more than 450,000 candidates have registered to contest 20 different grassroots positions at polling centres. 

The positions include representatives for women, youth, Special Interest Groups, farmers, religious groups, professionals, and MSMEs/traders.

“More than 450,000 candidates have registered to contest 20 positions at polling centres, ranging from representatives of women, youth, Special Interest Groups, farmers, religious groups, professionals, and MSMEs/traders,” Mbarire said.

UDA estimates that approximately eight million voters will participate in the exercise across more than 9,117 polling centres nationwide.

Hassan Omar Hassan, the Party Secretary General, addresses the press at the party headquarters. Photo: United Democratic Alliance (Facebook)

The party said it will deploy end-to-end technology to manage the elections, including 9,500 electronic voting tablets distributed across polling stations. Results will also be made available through a public portal on the party’s website.

So far, the party has successfully conducted grassroots elections in 25 counties, producing 235,923 grassroots officials.

The Repeat Phase II elections are expected to produce an additional 182,240 elected grassroots officials with a direct mandate from party members.

The party said the exercise forms part of its broader strategy to strengthen grassroots structures and expand participation in party leadership across the country.

On his part, party Secretary General Hassan Omar Hassan said the repeat exercise is intended to give another opportunity to candidates in positions that went uncontested, as well as those who failed to meet the required election threshold.

“The whole idea of this repeat is to give an opportunity to those whose seats were uncontested and those who did not meet the threshold required for the elections to have a second chance, while also allowing those who may have been left out to come on board,” Hassan said.

Also present at the press briefing were Executive Director Nicodemus Bore, Deputy Executive Director Brian Higgins Mbugua, and other party directors.

As the country’s political temperature gradually rises ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, the UDA grassroots elections represent a critical moment for both the party and its supporters. 

With hundreds of thousands of candidates in the race, Thursday’s polls are expected to be a defining test of internal democracy and organizational strength within one of Kenya’s dominant political formations.

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