Having won by a mere 200,000 votes in the previous election, President William Ruto has established a new target for the 2027 General Election, aiming for a victory margin between 2 and 3 million votes. During a Monday meeting of the UDA National Governing Council at State House in Nairobi, President Ruto emphasized that the narrow 2022 victory highlighted the necessity for a more comprehensive political strategy leading up to the next elections.
To broaden its support base, the President justified the ongoing coalition discussions between UDA and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), stating that a more extensive political coalition would strengthen national unity and improve electoral prospects.
President Ruto stressed that inclusive governance was vital, explaining that political collaboration would help solidify stability and enable the government to proceed with development initiatives. ‘Every Kenyan can have their needs met; one person’s gain doesn’t have to come at another’s expense,’ he remarked, further stating that inter-party cooperation was crucial for national unity.
Regarding UDA’s internal procedures, President Ruto announced that grassroots elections would be repeated in polling stations with fewer than 50 party members in attendance. He clarified that party elections would advance from local to national levels, with approximately 580,000 positions to be filled.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki took the opportunity during the meeting to present the government’s achievements over the past three years, highlighting progress in agriculture, electricity distribution, housing, and credit accessibility.
UDA Secretary-General Omar Hassan announced the resolutions approved by the council, which included endorsement of the proposed coalition discussions with ODM.
Prior to this, UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire reported that the Social Health Authority (SHA) had distributed KSh16.79 billion to county hospitals since October 1, 2024, as part of initiatives to promote universal health coverage.
The gathering included 164 Members of Parliament, 18 governors, 14 deputy governors, and 910 Members of County Assemblies.