UDA party revises campaign strategy in Mt Kenya after Azimio invasion

Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA party has revised its political strategy to form a strong formidable force in the Mount Kenya region.

The party has established a series of campaign trails across the Mt Kenya region reaching out to their supporters a move that is likely to provide swing votes ahead of August elections.

Several sources have said that the party is currently revising its strategy that previously worked for them in past elections such as in Kiambaa constituency.

For instance, the party is extensively campaigning and recruiting members to join the ‘adopt a polling station’ campaign strategy.

Those joining are tasked with reaching out to their followers who will keep vigil at polling stations on voting day and protect the UDA votes.

Another strategy involves reaching out to aspirants from other parties within their coalition, poll losers as well as independent candidates urging them to drop their bids and support UDA candidates.

Those who agreed are promised a prime position in case they form the next government in august.

Deputy President recently said that his team had agreed on the coordination of all the campaign activities and modalities of how multiple candidates will be engaged in the campaign across the region.

Ruto recently unveiled the UDA party dream team led by Members of Parliament Alice Wahome, Rigathi Gachagua, and Senator Kithure Kindiki, Ruto affirmed that they would pitch camp in the region to solicit votes for his Presidential bid.

Others in the list include governors Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) as well as mps Alice Wahome (Kandara) and Kikuyu’s Kimani Ichung’wah as well as Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.

UDA has been calling for its supporters to vote for six pieces in the coming election.

Last year, the Service Party (TSP) leader Mwangi Kiunjuri denounced Deputy President William Ruto’s call for six-piece voting as fatal to Mt Kenya parties.

The former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary told off the DP, saying that telling voters to elect only UDA candidates is tantamount to weakening Mt Kenya leaders.

Kiunjuri had said the electorate should be allowed to exercise their freedom in selecting their president, governor, senator, woman representative, MP, and MCA.

The recent strategy for UDA candidates campaigning as one team was launched last week in Murang’a County.

 UDA governor aspirant Irungu Kanga’ta and all aspirants in the County organized a rally in Maragua and traversed the whole region.

Speaking during Inooro TV, Mathira MP and Ruto’s deputy aspirant Rigathi Gachagua said that the team from Mount Kenya is not leaving anything at chance.

He said that the UDA party will have more representatives in all the houses ahead of august.

“UDA party support in the Mount Kenya region is unquestionable and we are sure we will be voted,” Rigathi said.

Ruto will contest the presidency on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket as it emerges that Kenya Kwanza will be a coalition of parties, not a coalition party.

Political analyst cum Star columnist Andrew Maringa has said that running on the UDA ticket alongside his deputy, Ruto will potentially have more powers and positions in government than coalition partners.

Mr Maringa said that if they share the government based on members elected this can be a reason the DP and his team has been drumming the six piece voting pattern.

He said that Ruto and UDA fraternity are keen on making the party stronger and more famous.

“This is the strategy of ensuring that UDA have more slots during the sharing of the government positions and that why they are launching adopt a polling station and recruiting more members, “he said.

UDA secretary for legal affairs Edward Muriu has said that the DP Ruto has more hopes with the Mount Kenya team.

He said that since the azimio la Umoja is also interested with the region votes having various grass-root mobilizations activities will make the party and its candidates more relevant.

Mr Muriu said they have engaged players in all sectors of the economy to ensure that the bottom-up economy model program is smoothly and entrenched at the ward and village levels.

He further said the bid to bring winners and losers together was for the sake of the party’s stability.

 “It is not easy to bring opponents together but we have made substantial progress by asking them to put the interests of the party first,” said Mr. Muriu.

 He said that William Ruto will beat his opponents with more than 70 percent of the total votes in August.