UDA opens 24-hour window for election disputes as repeat Phase III grassroots elections continue

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The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on Saturday, March 14, 2026, opened a 24-hour window for party members to submit complaints or disputes arising from the repeat Phase III grassroots elections in 18 counties.

The window is intended to ensure transparency and credibility as thousands of party members cast votes to elect local polling-station leaders.

The elections are being held in Kiambu, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Embu, Meru, Samburu, Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Nandi, Baringo, Laikipia, Kericho, Bomet, and Vihiga counties. Voting commenced at 8:00 a.m. and is scheduled to run until 5:00 p.m., with about eight million registered voters expected to participate across 8,819 polling centers. The party has deployed approximately 9,000 electronic voting tablets, with results to be published on a public portal on the UDA website.

Speaking during a media briefing at the party's headquarters in Nairobi, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the party is committed to handling all complaints quickly to maintain confidence in the electoral process.

“We want every grievance to be addressed swiftly. Our Electoral and Nomination Dispute Resolution Committee is available to handle complaints related to the elections. This ensures that all participants feel the process is credible and fair,” he said.

The elections are part of UDA’s broader strategy to strengthen party structures at the grassroots level and consolidate membership nationwide. Over 500,000 candidates are contesting 150,000 positions, representing women, youth, professionals, farmers, religious leaders, traders, and other special interest groups.

“We believe a party is strongest when those representing it locally are elected by members and are fully informed about our manifesto and government scorecard. By giving members the power to choose their local representatives, we are building legitimacy and unity from the ground up,” DP Kindiki said.

Minor delays were reported in some areas due to rain, transportation challenges, and missing candidate information in electronic registers. These were mitigated by deploying motorbikes to deliver voting gadgets to hard-to-reach centers and extending polling hours to allow every registered member to participate.

A tragic incident was reported in Tigania West, Meru County, where a returning officer collapsed while on duty and later died.

“We mourn the loss of our returning officer who was serving the party. We will provide full support to her family,” DP Kindiki said.

The party has emphasized the importance of peaceful conduct during the elections.

“Democracy is about persuasion, not confrontation. Any candidate or supporter attempting violent behavior will face strong consequences,” DP Kindiki said.

The 24-hour dispute window allows members to raise concerns promptly while the nationwide vote continues, reinforcing UDA’s commitment to transparent, accountable, and credible internal democracy.