UDA to recruit 15 million members

Marsabit, Sunday, June 4, 2023

KNA by Sebastian Miriti

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has embarked on an aggressive membership registration drive across the country to further bolster their political foothold in all corners of the country ahead of the coming polls.

The party secretary general Cleophas Malala said the party aimed at recruiting at least 15 million members by the year 2027 and appealed to Marsabit County residents to register with the ruling party.

Speaking at the Catholic Church grounds in Marsabit town during the launch of the exercise, Mr Malala said the membership registration drive was taking place across the country with the next general election being the focus.

The secretary general who was accompanied by local UDA leaders led by Saku member of Parliament Col (Rtd) Dido Raso, Marsabit senator Mohamed Chute, woman representative Naomi Wako and former Tana River County Governor Hussein Dado asked residents who have attained the age of 18 to register as voters as well.

"We as UDA want to consolidate our voter strength by recruiting 15 million members who should be able to translate into a clear win come 2027 elections" he said adding that the country currently has 21 million registered voters.

He urged for unity among the local leaders saying that was the only way that they could be able to popularlise and ensure support for the party in the region.

Mr Malala said the drive which kicked off at around 10 am saw 1,200 people register as members by 1pm before supporters of two rival camps at the local UDA branch clashed forcing the police to intervene.

At one point the exercise was temporarily halted after the anti-riot police were called in to disperse rival groups who were who clashed at the venue and engaged in stone pelting before calm was restored.

Area leaders called on residents to be tolerant on each other saying the 'struggle' for recognition that was witnessed was a testimony that the community's desire to be identified with the party.

Saku MP Dido Raso pointed out that UDA was a national and unifying party and urged locals to continue coexisting peacefully with each other.

He said the registration of members would be a continuous exercise and asked the residents to show solidarity with the party by registering as members.

 Courtesy ; K. N. A