The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has demonstrated its colossal mobilizing power, registering over 35,000 aspirants for grassroots elections, with its traditional strongholds leading the charge.

In a flex of political muscle that serves as a warning shot to the opposition, President William Ruto’s party has seen an overwhelming surge of interest in its upcoming grassroots polls. Data released by the party headquarters reveals that the Rift Valley and Mt Kenya regions are absolutely dominating the numbers, accounting for the lion's share of the 35,343 aspirants who have paid millions in fees to vie for party positions.

Meru County has emerged as the surprise leader in enthusiasm, fielding the highest number of contestants, followed closely by Kiambu, Murang’a, and Nakuru. This intense internal competition signals that the UDA ticket remains the most coveted political currency in these regions. "The ground is yellow," declared a party official. "People don’t fight for positions in a dying party; they fight for seats at the high table."

The Machinery of Dominance

The scale of the exercise is staggering. The party aims to elect 20 officials at every single polling centre across the country—a logistical behemoth that involves over 540,000 grassroots officials in total. This is not just an election; it is a mass recruitment drive disguised as a poll. by embedding 20 officials in every village, UDA is building a formidable, cell-based machine designed to deliver a landslide in the 2027 General Election.

The stakes are high. These grassroots officials will form the electoral college that determines the party’s future leadership and, crucially, its nominations. For aspiring MCAs, MPs, and Governors, controlling the grassroots delegates is the first step to securing the party ticket. This explains the cutthroat competition and the willingness of aspirants to part with registration fees ranging from thousands to millions of shillings.

A Tale of Two Regions

The dominance of Mt Kenya and the Rift Valley reaffirms the "shareholding" structure of the ruling coalition. Despite efforts to project a national image, the party’s heart beats strongest in its foundational bases. In contrast, uptake in opposition zones remains lower, highlighting the polarized nature of the country's political geography. However, the party is pushing hard to penetrate these areas, using the lure of government patronage to attract new blood.

• The Financial Windfall: The registration fees alone have generated tens of millions of shillings for the party war chest, making UDA perhaps the most financially liquid political outfit in the region.
• Internal Friction: The high number of aspirants brings the risk of fallout. With so many people vying for limited positions, the party faces a headache in managing the bruised egos of the losers.
• The 2027 Calculator: Every official elected is a vote secured. UDA is effectively locking in its vote bank three years ahead of the main contest.

The Road to the Polls

As the February deadline approaches, the political temperature in the villages is reaching fever pitch. Night meetings, lobbying, and localized campaigning are in full swing. President Ruto has promised free and fair polls, aware that a shambolic process could fracture his coalition. For now, the numbers speak for themselves: the UDA machine is oiled, funded, and hungry for total dominance.