President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is set to rake in millions of shillings from fees charged to aspirants seeking 246,000 polling centre positions in its upcoming grassroots elections across Rift Valley and Mt Kenya.
At the polling centre level, the ruling party plans to elect 20 officials in each centre. UDA National Elections Board chairperson Anthony Mwaura said the 20 counties scheduled to vote on January 10 will cumulatively produce 246,000 office holders.
Aspirants at this lowest tier must pay a non-refundable Sh200 fee, meaning the party could collect at least Sh98 million if each of the 20 positions attracts only two candidates. Officials expect higher interest in UDA strongholds.
IEBC data shows the country has 27,397 registration centres, which would translate to 547,940 grassroots officials if UDA eventually fills all positions nationwide. Should each position attract just two aspirants paying Sh200, the party stands to collect Sh219 million. UDA has already concluded polls in 27 counties.
According to the party’s Grassroots Election Guide, polling centre voters will elect representatives for religious groups (three), traders (four), professionals (three), youth (four), special interest groups (one), farmers (three), and a man and a woman representative.
At the ward level, where 18 positions are up for election in all 1,450 wards, aspirants will pay Sh1,000 each. If each post draws two candidates, the party could net about Sh52 million. Another 18 slots will be contested at the constituency level, with candidates paying Sh2,000.
The party has also declared 18 county positions in each of the 47 counties. Aspirants for chairperson and deputy will pay Sh20,000, while those vying for secretary, deputy secretary, treasurer and organising secretary will pay Sh10,000. All other county posts attract a Sh5,000 fee.
More than 15 national positions will be contested, with each aspirant paying Sh50,000.
United Democratic Alliance Elections Board Chairman Anthony Mwaura addresses the media about preparations for the grassroots elections on April 9, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
UDA has rolled out an intensive sensitisation drive to mobilise members ahead of the elections, which will progress from polling centre to ward, constituency and county levels before culminating in a National Delegates Convention in April 2026.
Yesterday, UDA leaders in Nyeri joined the party’s secretariat for a sensitisation forum at Kagumo Teachers Training College.
Senator Wahome Wamatinga, National Elections Board vice-chairperson Veronica Kiberenge and Director of Logistics Sam Mwangi led the engagement with local members.
A voter casts his ballot at St George's Primary School during the UDA grassroot elections on Friday.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
MPs Eric Wamumbi (Mathira), Wambugu Wainaina (Othaya) and Njoroge Wainana Chieni (Kieni) also attended.
The campaign is part of a broader effort to strengthen grassroots participation in the Mt Kenya region. The party had been perceived to be delaying elections in Mt Kenya following the bitter falling-out between President Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached in October 2024.
The decision to proceed with the exercise in the region comes a week after UDA’s by-election win in Mbeere North, viewed as a timely boost to the president’s re-election narrative.
The November 27 mini-poll was widely interpreted as a gauge of the administration’s standing after nationwide Gen Z-led protests in June 2024 and amid shifting alliances in Mt Kenya.
By pushing ahead with grassroots polls, Dr Ruto is seen as seeking to consolidate support in a region that, alongside the North Rift, delivered 4.5 million votes—63 per cent of his total—in the last election.
