Belgut Member of Parliament Nelson Koech claims the ongoing El Nino rain is one of the reasons for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to postpone its local elections.
According to Koech, the party felt the need to postpone the elections from December 2023 to April 2024 because it would be careless to continue with the elections when thousands of people across the country have been affected by heavy rains.
“It would be very careless for us politicians to campaign in the base of a nation that is facing the effects of floods and heavy rains. It would not make sense and we thought it was right we stop until April,” Koech said.
He also claimed that the election was postponed due to the games of East African parliamentarians in Rwanda, where many key members of the UDA will attend.
He also touched on the postponement of the December celebrations where families reunite to celebrate the end of the year and start another new year celebration.
“During our last meeting, we asked the president because of what is happening in the country, it is fair to postpone the elections until next year,” Koech said.
In the same panel, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi laughed off claims the party’s local elections were postponed due to El Nino rains.
Osotsi instead claimed the election was postponed due to the reception of hatred in the grassroots due to the rise in the cost of living which has left many Kenyans struggling.
“Citizens have a great hatred for UDA because of the cost of living. Therefore, it is fair for them to postpone the elections so that they do not face those challenges on the ground,” Osotsi said.
The senator also added that internal conflicts within the party made it difficult to run the election, as leaders from different regions have their own preferences.
”We know the competition within UDA, we have people who say we want this seat, others say this region must get this one… Mount Kenya saying they must have a position of SG and also have one position of deputy leader of the party. ,” he added.
On November 18, the UDA announced the postponement of the local elections, a decision reached after a meeting of the National Leadership Council (NSC).
“The election will be divided into three groups, which will be held on 12, 19 and 26 April 2024. A detailed schedule showing the county groups will be released in due course,” UDA General Secretary Cleophas Malala announced.
