Bishop Margaret Wanjiru on Friday, January 9 received a nomination certificate to contest for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in February 18, 2021 on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.
The newly rebranded party has been heavily linked to Deputy President William Ruto.
Close allies of the DP attended the ceremony which also served as the launch of the headquarters for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) dubbed the Hustler Centre. Among those in attendance were Senators Kipchumba Murkomen and Susan Kihika as well as Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah.
All three leaders were dressed in UDA branded gear despite being members of the Jubilee Party.
Former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, who recently emerged as Chairman of UDA, handed over nomination certificates to aspirants in upcoming MCA, MP and gubernatorial by-elections.
The party has a wheelbarrow as its symbol and ‘Kazi ni Kazi’ (Work is Work) as its slogan. It’s primary colors are yellow and green.
It has styled itself as a working mans’ party, and espouses the ‘hustler nation’ philosophy made famous by Deputy President William Ruto.
Muthama had earlier stated that UDA would field candidates in by-elections after conducting scientific polls to find the best candidates.
Critics of UDA, however, cast doubts on the awarding of direct nominations as opposed to the primaries route.
“We have agreed as it has been the Hustler Nation tradition, a scientific opinion poll shall carried out & the above aspirants have collectively agreed to respect and support the will of the people,” Muthama wrote after a January 6 meeting with Machakos Senatorial by-election aspirants. Ruto was among those present at the meeting
The registrar of political parties approved the change of UDA’s name, symbol and slogan in a letter dated January 7, 2020.
The party was formerly known as the Party of Development and Reform (PDR).
Analysts have argued that the emergence of UDA is a pointer to a likely exit of Ruto and his allies from the Jubilee Party ahead of the 2022 General Elections.
Leave a comment