Meru leaders under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) have called on voters to turn out and exercise their democratic rights during grassroots elections scheduled for March 14, seen as a precursor to the 2027 general elections.
Speaking separately, Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi, Nominated MP Dorothy Muthoni and Nominated MCA Doris Gakii urged supporters of the party to come out in large numbers and elect their preferred grassroots leaders.
Speaking on the eve of the elections, Senator Murungi praised President William Ruto and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for introducing a verifiable and transparent digital voting system that, he said, cannot be infiltrated or manipulated.
Kathuri urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to consider adopting a similar system for the national general elections.
“Let us conduct peaceful elections. No one should disrupt the process. We must entrench respect and uphold democracy for a better Kenyan society,” Murungi said.
Kathuri, who is the Senate deputy speaker, will be vying to be the Chairperson at the County level alongside Beatrice Karwitha and Mugambi Rindikiri.
He also aims to vie for the Chairperson at the national level.
The Senator also extended his gratitude to all 56,000 registered UDA members participating as candidates across Meru’s 1,043 polling centres.
He urged voters to turn out in large numbers, noting that each centre will elect 20 representatives, including farmers, businessmen, religious leaders, youth, professionals, persons with disabilities among others.
“The voting is open to everyone who is registered, even if you have voted before. The exercise will be free, fair, and conducted online, with instant results,” he added.
UDA Senate aspirant for the 2027 general elections, Dorothy Muthoni, lauded the party’s grassroots structure, describing the polls as evidence of its commitment to developing leaders from the lowest levels to the national stage in line with the Bottom-Up Economic Agenda.
Nominated MCA Doris Gakii reiterated that the repeat elections would be free and fair.
She appealed to voters to maintain peace and order, warning against attempts to misuse the process to cause chaos or disruption.
The elections will culminate in the selection of candidates who will represent the party at various levels ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Karwitha on January 11 lauded the digital voting system, saying it accurately captured the will of the electorate and boosted confidence in the outcome of the polls.
She said this after similar elections were successful on January 10, 2026 but later nullified.
Karwitha, who works in the Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s office then said party leadership should reflect the diversity of the people it serves.
She had said the digital process enhanced efficiency, transparency and credibility, with results transmitted and declared shortly after the close of polling.
The January 10 grassroots elections attracted more than 32,000 UDA members contesting various leadership positions across Meru County
Edited by John Majau
