UDA Issues 21 Nomination Certificates for By-Elections

Nairobi, Kenya — September 27, 2025 (EAT).

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on Friday announced that it had issued 21 nomination certificates to aspirants intending to contest the upcoming November 27 by-elections.

The Latest

• Deputy Party Leader Kithure Kindiki and other senior UDA officials presided over the handover of certificates to the selected aspirants at a ceremony in Nairobi.

• The party said it deployed a zoning strategy in collaboration with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to avoid “friendly fire” in certain constituencies.

• As part of that coordination, UDA will cede some seats to ODM, while contesting others independently.

Context & Strategic Rationale

• The November by-elections are widely viewed as a barometer for political strength ahead of 2027, making the nomination process crucial for party positioning.

• UDA’s decision to issue multiple certificates simultaneously signals confidence in its internal processes and a push to stake its claim across numerous counties.

• The zoning agreement with ODM suggests that both parties are trying to manage their coalition relationship carefully, minimizing overlap and intra-coalition competition.

Implications & Observations

• Coalition dynamics: UDA’s alignment and concessions to ODM may help maintain coalition stability ahead of larger contests.

• Intra-party pressure: By handing out 21 certificates, UDA faces pressure to deliver on strong candidates and avoid primary disputes down the line.

• Message of reach: It signals UDA’s intention to compete broadly in Kenya’s political terrain, not limiting itself to only strongholds.

• Scrutiny ahead: Nominations frequently attract challenges over fairness, primaries, and ballot eligibility—UDA must manage these risks.