President William Ruto, chairing the UDA National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Saturday evening, addressed the contentious issue of the composition of the National Delegates Convention (NDC) scheduled for December. The NEC agreed on a formula that will result in opposition strongholds sending fewer delegates to the NDC.
Recently, regions such as Western, Nyanza, and Coast have shown increased support for UDA, with significant delegate turnout in ongoing grassroots polls. The UDA statement highlighted that the composition of the NDC will be based on the presidential vote each county contributed to the UDA presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.
Counties that garnered over 50 percent of the votes will produce 20 delegates each for the NDC, while those with less than 50 percent will share slots on a pro-rata basis.
With tensions in the Mt Kenya counties and fears of sharp differences between Ruto and his deputy, it remains uncertain how Ruto will align the region with the party ahead of the 2027 polls.
The issue of NDC composition has led to internal squabbles within UDA as leaders jostle for senior positions in the national elections planned for later this year. Concerns have been raised that some regions, particularly those that previously supported Azimio but are now warming up to President Ruto, might be disadvantaged.
Under the new formula, regions that voted less for Ruto will have fewer delegates, a move insiders believe will protect UDA from opposition moles. Consequently, counties from the vote-rich Mt Kenya region and the Rift Valley will have the highest number of delegates at the December NDC. These two regions were pivotal in Ruto’s State House victory, with 17 counties delivering over two-thirds of the 7.1 million votes he received.
The upcoming UDA delegates convention is crucial, as it will adopt a new leadership structure that confirms Deputy President Gachagua as the sole deputy party leader, along with other assistants. The NDC will also set the stage for President Ruto’s reelection campaign as he seeks a second term in office.
