Ruto forays into Raila’s backyard as UDA launches Kisumu Office
President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, has launched its office in the lakeside city of Kisumu in what is seen as a bold move to gain support in Raila Odinga’s backyard.
Kisumu County UDA interim chairman Francis Osenya says the party aims to register 250,000 new members in the region during the registration period running from February to June this year.
“We want to register 250,000 members from each of the four counties of Nyanza – Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori. Registration begins in Kisumu this weekend. We intend to register people from every polling station in Nyanza. We will even go door-to-door to find members,” Osenya said.
The launch of the office was attended by various UDA party members and supporters in Kisumu County, including aspirants in the last general election who have pulled up resources to aid in setting up the office and facilitating logistics for the recruitment exercise.
Osenya insisted that the registration exercise is being conducted without any coercion or bribery. He said the democratic space is now open for everyone to make their own decision driven by freedom of choice and value orientation.
“The notion that Kisumu County is an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party zone is an old adage. We are now in the era of political democracy and choice,” he added.
The UDA party Secretary General Cleophas Malala is expected in Kisumu County on Saturday to launch the registration exercise, where they hope to get a substantial number of new members. The party’s plan to register members from every polling station in Nyanza has raised eyebrows, and political observers will be keen to see how the move plays out in the coming months.
He told Nation, “We want to register 250,000 members from each of the four counties of Nyanza – Siaya, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori. Registration begins in Kisumu this weekend.”
Adding, “We will also come up with a reward plan. Those who register as UDA members will get incentives. As a government, we control the national resources.”