The sheer number of aspirants President William Ruto’s UDA has attracted with 18 months to elections signals deep grassroots network likely to boost his re-election bid.
The President’s party attracted a record 12,235 aspirants keen on flying the ruling party flag in the 2027 elections.
The hopefuls include 149 aspirants for Governor, 279 for Senate, 33 for Woman representative seats, 1,372 MPs and 10,230 MCAs.
This excludes some UDA incumbents who were not required to register as aspirants at this stage.
Civil servants eyeing elective positions have also not come to the open.
So far, Nairobi City County has recorded the highest number of UDA aspirants.
The aspirants held their first meeting, chaired by President Ruto, at State House on Wednesday.
Ruto said the huge number of aspirants attending the meeting was unprecedented in his political career, terming it as a strong statement about the kind of politics Kenyans want.
“I have been around and I have never witnessed a meeting of over 12,000 aspirants,” Ruto said.
The same was echoed by National Assembly’s Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo suggesting the ruling party might be ahead of others in planning.
“I have been observing the party UDA keenly for the last three months. They plan, they organize and execute,” Millie said.
“They create perception and set the stage for an outcome. Other parties are either playing catch up or cheering on the sidelines.”
Millie is an ODM elected MP representing Suba North constituency in Homa Bay county.
Observers agree that the thousands of aspirants seeking various elective seats under the UDA party strengthens the outfit’s presence at the ward, constituency and county levels.
Many say the strategy gives Ruto a ready-made nationwide machinery, with aspirants doubling up as campaign agents embedded in local communities.
According to political analyst Odoyo Owidi, the grassroots network is expected to play a crucial role in selling Ruto’s candidature across the 47 counties.
“The only stable political party in the country now is UDA and that is why you saw the huge numbers,” Owidi told the Star.
By Wednesday, UDA had registered aspirants from all the 47 counties yearning to fly its flag.
Nairobi led the pack with 968 aspirants, reflecting the highly competitive nature of politics in the capital, where all elective seats are expected to attract crowded races.
The aspirants from Nairobi included nine gubernatorial hopefuls, 23 senatorial contenders, 15 candidates eyeing the woman representative seat, 112 parliamentary aspirants and 809 MCA hopefuls.
Nakuru County followed with 691 aspirants, making it one of UDA’s most politically active regions.
From the statistics, the party had 615 aspirants from Baringo, Bomet (450), Bungoma (319), Busia (261), Elgeyo/Marakwet (356), Embu (231), Garissa (73), Homa Bay (292), Isiolo (59) and Kajiado (181).
In Kakamega county, the ruling party attracted 425 aspirants, Kericho (590), Kiambu (518), Kilifi (143), Kirinnyaga (113), Kisii (241), Kisumu (89), Kitui (301), Kwale (97), Laikipia (90), Lamu (42), Machakos (320), Makueni (216), Mnadera (128) and Marsabit (148).
From the list of aspirants, 345 aspirants registered from Meru, Migori (194), Mombasa (218), Murang’a (295), Nandi (628), Narok (249), Nyamira (175), Nyandarua (93), Nyeri (204), Samburu (92) and Siaya (80).
On Wednesday, Ruto said the aspirants will be part of his 2027 re-election machinery tapping into thousands of UDA aspirants as grassroots foot soldiers.
He urged the aspirants to sell the administration’s development record, saying the government had laid a strong foundation through economic reforms, infrastructure expansion and social programmes.
“We are strengthening the United Democratic Alliance at the grassroots to position it as truly national and inclusive political party and accommodates every Kenyan and champions a long-term agenda for unity, growth, and shared prosperity,” Ruto said.
“As promised in our manifesto, we are transforming the economy from bottom-up , with over 80 per cent of our commitments already delivered.”
In doing so, he is quietly building a vast grassroots network that stretches far beyond formal party structures.
The aspirants, whom each were handed UDA manifesto, will actively engage in mobilising support, popularising government programmes and selling the ruling party’s message long before the official campaign period begins.
Some quarters are however cautioning against reading much from the sheer numbers drawing attention to some counties which recorded low turnout of aspirants.
Political analyst Martin Andati told the Star that the President has work to do especially in central Kenya where in some counties the party registered no aspirant for the gubernatorial seats.
“The numbers in Central Kenya and Eastern is not good for him (Ruto). Most of the aspirants are from Rift Valley,” Andati told the Star on phone.
“He (Ruto) is just trying to gauge the mood on the ground. He is trying to know who is with him and who is out.”
Ruto, who addressed the aspirants at State House, assured them that the party will conduct free, fair, democratic and credible nominations, urging unity and discipline after the contests.
The numbers, Ruto said, are both a show of confidence in UDA and a test of its internal democracy as it prepares for one of the most competitive nomination exercises in its short history.
“We have done nominations before. I want to give you my personal undertaking that I will ensure this party conducts free, fair, democratic, credible elections,” the President said amid cheers from attendees.
“It is not a favour. To have a free and fair nomination process is not a favour. It is a right. You don’t request, you demand,” he said, drawing loud applause from the aspirants.
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