By Andanje Wakhungu
The United Democratic Alliance’s (UDA) political affairs officer, Desmond Shinaka, has urged party supporters in Western Kenya to elect visionary leaders in the coming party elections slated for this August. He said visionary leaders would help President William Ruto’s administration achieve its goals. Mr Shinaka was on a tour of western Kenya to drum up support for the party. He said President Ruto’s administration greatly appreciated the party members’ contributions to achieving the national economic development goals.
He also added that the UDA party highly appreciates the role women played during the 2022 elections that saw his party clinch power. He assured the Malava Women Consultative Forum initiative that his party would support, then secure employment in government and secure businesses through the tendering process to uplift their living standards.
Mr. Shinaka visited the Butali Chegulo ward, which is represented in the Kakamega County Assembly by Mr. Kevin Mahelo (MCA). He was accompanied by a close confidant of President Ruto, Benjamin Nalwa, who is eyeing the Malava constituency seat in the 2027 general election on the UDA party ticket. Mr Shinaka called on the women to consider Mr Nalwa for the seat in the next elections, adding that he was close to the country’s top leadership and would be able to bring development to the locals.
“As you know, your current Mp Malulu Injendi is in the ANC, which is folding into UDA, and it is only this son of yours who is already in UDA to represent your interests; let us support him from the grass-roots level as he has been vetted and accepted at the national level.”
He urged the women to elect young and energetic leaders who could bring fresh ideas to the table. ‘The UDA Party took office at a time when things were bad, and we have been working around the clock to turn things around. The prices of sugar, fertilizer, flour, and fuel have since been reduced and will reduce even further for the benefit of the common mwananchi”.
The current government aspires to uplift the lives of our women and young people; it is working to absorb some of them into various sectors across the country, and the best we can do as the electorate is to support President Ruto. “Our president has invested heavily in technical training institutions where young people can train in the ICT sector and earn by working from home. Funds will be released to support women’s groups to start income generating businesses; this is one way of strengthening our party’s database. Please ensure you register and identify with a certain women’s group to be able to access women’s funds.”
Registration will consist of various positions, including youth (4), business people (4), professionals (3), farmers (3), and church representatives in special interest group 1, among others. The Butali Chegulo ward Mca Kevin Mahelo, on his part, announced that he will vie for the UDA county chairmanship and said he will support Cleophas Malala’s bid to retain his national secretary general position.
“Already, UDA leadership has recognized us by giving us both the secretary general (Malala) and chief whip senate (Dr.Boni Khalwale), and we should support them in retaining their positions. Mahelo called for unity and soberness as the party prepares to hold its grass-roots polls in the county.
