The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) says it is ready to hold its ward-level grassroots elections in Mombasa County on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar said preparations for the elections had been completed, with 4,560 polling centre delegates elected earlier expected to participate in the exercise.
The delegates will elect 20 officials in each ward as the party continues with its nationwide grassroots elections.
Omar said the Mombasa elections had initially been scheduled for October 3 but were postponed due to President William Ruto’s visit to the county.
“We have completed our preparations for the ward-level elections, and tomorrow we will have elections across Mombasa County,” Omar said.
He said the grassroots elections were part of a wider effort to strengthen UDA’s structures across the country.
“We are continuing to strengthen the party and ensure that the party has a strong presence at the grassroots,” he said.
Omar said UDA had already elected polling centre officials across the country, with about 44,000 polling centres represented and nearly half a million grassroots officials expected to participate in the party’s internal elections.
He said the process would proceed to constituency and county-level elections before the party eventually holds national elections.
“The seats at the national level will also be open, including the positions of chairman, secretary general and all the other positions,” Omar said.
Delegates assured of fair elections
Omar assured candidates and delegates that the elections would be free and fair, saying the party would use technology to conduct the voting process.
“The beauty of this election is that leaders will be electing their leaders. Everyone participating tomorrow is already a leader because they were elected at the polling centre,” the UDA SG said.
“It is a free and fair election. There will be no form of injustice. We are using technology and will use tablets to conduct the voting,” he added.
He urged unsuccessful candidates to remain engaged in the party and continue working towards strengthening its structures ahead of the next general election.
Security assured
Omar said the party had involved the National Police Service in its internal elections to ensure security at all polling centres.
He said 30 polling centres would be used for Thursday’s exercise in Mombasa County.
“There will be security. Whenever we conduct our elections, we involve the police, and they have the responsibility of ensuring that every polling centre is protected,” Omar said.
The UDA official said candidates and delegates attending prayers for the 17 people who died in Jomvu would still have an opportunity to vote.
He said voters who arrive at polling centres before the scheduled closing time would be allowed to cast their ballots.
According to Omar, the party’s grassroots elections would ultimately help prepare UDA for the next general election.
“We ask everyone to continue with the journey of strengthening the party and ensuring that we secure victory in the coming elections at all levels,” he said.