The declarations by the party’s stalwarts portend a heated contest in the region that has historically been dominated by the Oburu Oginga-led ODM party.
During the ongoing sensitisation and popularisation tours, UDA officials declared the party will field candidates for every elective position. The caravan is expected to continue the campaign in Mombasa tomorrow (Tuesday).
The move would see it field governor, senator, Member of Parliament, woman representative and MCA candidates across the six coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Tana River.
The move sets the stage for high-profile confrontations with ODM incumbents and rules out any speculation of a zoning agreement between the two parties ahead of the next general election.
In Mombasa, UDA secretary general Hassan Omar is angling for the ruling party’s gubernatorial ticket, which would pit him against the incumbent, ODM’s Abdulswamad Nassir.
Nassir is set to defend his seat, a race whose outcome would be determined heavily by how the parties in the broad-based arrangement align their cards.
The governor won in 2022, a time he had the backing of Raila Odinga [deceased], who was in a coalition with Kalonzo Musyoka, which gave him an upper hand against UDA’s Omar.
In Kilifi, former Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa is ready to challenge ODM’s Gideon Mung’aro. Her candidacy has the backing of Amason Kingi, who has since shelved his PAA party's ambitions in favour of UDA.
Meanwhile, Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani is expected to defend her seat, positioning herself as a formidable UDA candidate.
ODM’s strong showing in Kwale has taken a nosedive in recent years.
Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, who won his 2022 election as an independent, has been closely associated with UDA leaders.
Though he has yet to defect officially, political observers expect him to seek re-election under the UDA banner.
In Tana River, outgoing ODM Governor Dhadho Godhana is serving his final term, opening the door for a crowded race.
Senator Danson Mungatana has expressed interest in succeeding him, alongside Galole MP Said Hiribae.
Mungatana has been actively touring the region with UDA principals.
In Lamu, outgoing Governor Issa Timamy, who serves as UDA’s deputy party leader, has already endorsed his deputy, Mbarak Salim, as his preferred successor.
Timamy’s adviser and former Lamu West MP Julius Ndegwa will be Salim’s running mate.
“These two are enough to drive Lamu in the right direction. Never be deceived,” Timamy said recently.
Addressing rallies across the region, Omar, who is leading the campaign alongside CS Salim Mvurya, dismissed any notion that the Coast is an ODM stronghold.
“We are in government by right. We will support President William Ruto. There is a legitimate expectation of the people,” he said.
UDA has planned grassroots elections on April 23, through which it seeks to assert itself strongly in the region, as it is in other counties.
“Come out in large numbers so that we build a party that will propel Ruto to a win. Let’s not fear anyone,” Omar asked the residents.
The elections will also be conducted in Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Turkana, Kajiado, Bungoma, Siaya, Kisumu, Migori, Kisii and Nyamira.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Sports CS Salim Mvurya, and other UDA leaders accompanied Omar during the tour, which began at Taveta and concluded in Lamu.
In the tours, Mvurya urged residents to reject the opposition, which he described as “remnants of past governments with no demonstrable track record in development”.
He vouched for UDA, saying it has already begun correcting the historical marginalisation of the Coast region through infrastructure, education and economic policies.
UDA National Elections Board member Nathaniel Mong'are outlined the party’s ambitious grassroots strategy, saying the Coast is special for the party’s inroads.
“We don’t believe that zoning is the way to go,” he told the Star on enquiry on how the move sits with their partners in ODM.
UDA seeks to elect 20 officials in 27,270 polling centres across 42 counties.
“UDA will have 583,000 elected officials at all polling centres,” Mong’are said.
“Our strategy is to have people at every polling centre. It will be the largest architecture any political party can ever dream of.”
“In our party, there is no zoning. This is to encourage multiparty democracy in Kenya.”
That position stands in direct contrast to signals from ODM, whose chairperson, Gladys Wanga, has been on a rallying call that the parties agree on a formula that reduces internal fights.
Mining CS Hassan Joho and Governor Nassir have ruled out zoning as part of any arrangement with UDA.
Joho insisted that ODM will field candidates for all positions except the presidency and will “vigorously campaign for its candidates.”
But UDA leaders argue that the region’s long-standing grievances, including landlessness, statelessness, job marginalisation, poor roads, and lack of electricity, are finally being addressed by President Ruto’s administration.
“Look at Lamu, for instance, a place that had never seen tarmac, now set to enjoy tarmacked roads courtesy of UDA leadership,” Omar said.
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