Uasin Gishu gubernatorial aspirant Amb. Sarah Serem is optimistic the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party will hold free and fair nominations.
UDA, rated as the most popular party in the country, based on the latest opinion polls, has received hundreds of applications from aspirants eying various elective positions in the upcoming poll.
It is estimated the party has close to 5,000 aspirants.
But even as UDA receives a huge number of aspirants, there have been concerns on whether the party will hold free and fair primaries.
For Amb. Serem, she believes the party has the capacity to ensure fairness in the nominations.
The party’s National Elections Board (NEB) has been going around the country meeting aspirants, with the main message being the nominations will be free and fair.
“I am looking at nothing else less than fairness. UDA coordinators and the elections board have confirmed the nomination will be fair and above board and that they will demonstrate it is possible to hold fair and transparent nominations. I expect nothing less than that,” said Amb. Sarah Serem.
While on an engagement with aspirants from Uasin Gishu County at UDA headquarters in Eldoret town, NEB chairperson Eng. Anthony Mwaura affirmed that the will of members will prevail at the nominations.
Mwaura also dismissed fears that some politicians had already been issued with nomination certificates.
“We’re going to make sure nominations will be free and fair. That is our wish and commitment. The aspirants have been scared because of rumors that some have certificates and we’ve assured them that nobody has the certificate. We have not even printed ballot papers,” he said.
Fears over the fairness of the UDA party primaries have already seen Kapseret Member of Parliament aspirant Frank Murgor opt to vie as an independent candidate.
Similar reasons were given by Moiben MP Silas Tiren who will also seek re-election as an independent candidate.
Also Read: Moiben MP Silas Tiren to Seek Re-Election as an Independent Candidate
UDA has set between 9th and 16th April 2022 as dates it will be holding its party primaries across the country.
