UDA Party Postpones Nairobi County Elections Again

President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has announced the postponement of the Nairobi county elections for the second time. Initially scheduled for June 22 at the Bomas of Kenya, the elections have been called off due to unspecified "unavoidable circumstances," as stated by Anthony Mwaura, the chairperson of the party’s national elections board.

"We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding," Mwaura commented in the party's official statement. He assured that further details regarding the rescheduling of the elections will be communicated in due course.

This latest delay comes after the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal halted the elections on June 6 following a complaint lodged by one of the factions involved in the Nairobi county politics.

In an effort to resolve the internal strife surrounding the Nairobi County polls, President Ruto has delegated his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, to lead negotiations between the opposing factions. The elections have been a source of contention primarily between factions aligned with Governor Johnson Sakaja and Embakasi North MP James Gakuya.

The UDA party has indicated that Ruto's directive for Gachagua to facilitate a political settlement aims to address the disagreements and pave the way forward for the elections. The decision to postpone the elections was reached after a UDA National Executive Committee meeting chaired by President Ruto at State House, signaling ongoing efforts to reconcile differences within the party.

While Gachagua's involvement in the negotiations has raised speculation about his allegiances, the UDA party remains committed to ensuring a fair electoral process in Nairobi. The factions involved have differing preferences regarding the voting method, with one camp advocating for a manual system and the other for a digital approach.

Despite the setbacks, the UDA party remains determined to conduct the Nairobi county elections promptly, aiming to uphold democratic principles and provide clarity to party delegates and supporters alike.