Nairobi UDA delegates have rejected President William Ruto’s call for a consensus in the party’s county elections, insisting on a secret ballot instead. Led by Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, the delegates criticized the electronic voting system as susceptible to manipulation.
Over the weekend, the ruling party’s National Executive Committee suspended elections in Nairobi and two other counties. President Ruto subsequently tasked Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua with mediating between two factions, one led by Gakuya and the other by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.
The Gakuya faction, however, is adamant that voters should exercise their democratic rights without interference. Speaking from Naivasha, where over 200 delegates have gathered, Gakuya expressed confidence in securing leadership in the City. He emphasized the need for a secret ballot, offering to cover the cost of printing voting materials if necessary.
Gakuya dismissed the electronic voting system as prone to manipulation and urged the party’s elections board to consider their request for a secret ballot. He also called on the party tribunal to address a pending court petition that could delay the elections.
Former nominated senator Millicent Omanga backed Gakuya’s call for a secret ballot, suggesting that the postponement of elections might be a tactic to shift support away from Gakuya. Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda expressed optimism that Gakuya had the backing of 248 delegates and urged the National Elections Board chairperson Antony Mwaura to ensure transparency by adopting a secret ballot process.