United Democratic Alliance(UDA), a part associated with Deputy President William Ruto has opted out of the Eldas Ward by-elections, weeks after enjoying a big victory in Uhuru’s backyard, Kiambaa.
The party secretary general Veronica Maina announced that decision was reached after consultation with the local community in Wajir County.
“…the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) wish to announce that we shall not be fielding a candidate to contest for the vacant position of the Member of County Assembly, Eldas Ward, Wajir County,” Veronica Maina said in the statement seen by Kivumbi.co.ke.
According to the UDA, the decision to pull out of the race is also in honour of the late Eldas Ward Representative, Ibrahim Abbas. The secretary-general further noted that the late MCA was a member of the UDA party.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands the decision by UDA is heavily influenced by Northern Kenya’s style of politics where elders play a huge role in who gets what seat.
A case in point is In April this year when Garissa County Senator Yusuf Haji passed on.
The elder’s influence came at play when his son, Abdulkadir Haji was unanimously endorsed as the next Senator.
After the endorsement from elders, there was no one who expressed interest in the seat and all possible parties withdrew including UDA, giving Abdulkadir a direct ticket from IEBC.
However, the UDA Party’s decision to quit the Eldas by-election comes after a landslide victory in the Kiambaa by-election.
The William Ruto-linked party managed to beat Jubilee in the Kiambaa polls, with John Njuguna being the new MP.
Before this, the party had also boasted of a win in the Juja by-election, where People Empowerment Party’s Geoffrey Koimburi emerged the winner.
Even though he is not a full member of UDA, the party boasted of the win since they are political associates.
Prior to this, the United Democratic Alliance clinched the MCA seats in the London ward(Nakuru County) and Rurii ward(Kiambu County).
In Bonchari constituency by-election earlier in the year, the party gave front-runners from Jubilee and ODM a run for their money, it’s candidate emerging position 3.
