UDA youth leadership takes shape in Homa Bay as party plans mass registration

Homa Bay County's UDA youth league chairman Kevin Ouma (left) honours Calvince Oyier in Magunga town. Oyier was elected the UDA party youth league chairman in Suba South Constituency. [James Omoro, Standard]

The UDA party has embarked on laying down structures to infiltrate Homa Bay County, one of the ODM party strongholds in Nyanza.

UDA officials have hit the road running by electing the party youth league representatives in Karachuonyo and Suba South constituencies respectively.

On Saturday, Calvince Oyier was elected the UDA party youth league chairman in Suba South Constituency while Edwin Okoth was elected the vice chairman.

Others elected are Joshua Magadi and Ruth Adhiambo who will serve as the party secretary and treasurer respectively among other officials.

The election was also conducted in each of the four wards in the constituency. In Gwassi North ward, Elvis Nyanga was elected the youth league chairman, Kennedy Obado (Kaksingri West Ward), Victor Oore (Ruma Kasingri East) and Joseph Owino (Gwassi South).

Kevin Ouma, UDA youth league chairman in Homa Bay county presided over the elections together with organising secretary Evance Oloo and county party secretary Wayn Odote and assistant coordinator Kennedy Ongati.

Speaking at Magunga town, the officials said they are committed to strengthening UDA party in the county.

Mr Ouma said the elections are aimed at putting structures in place to ensure UDA entrenches its roots in the county.

He added that the party officials are also charged with the role of recruiting UDA members in their jurisdictions.

"Those elected are going to promote the interest of the party from polling stations to the county level including registration of members," Ouma said.

According to Oloo, their main objective is to provide alternative leadership so that residents stop relying on the ODM party alone. He said this will be achieved by making sure UDA clinches elective seats in the county.

"We need alternative political leadership in this county. We do not want a county assembly dominated by MCAs from a single political party. Our vision is to ensure UDA gets as many seats as possible in this county come 2027," Oloo said.

He argued that they are promoting the politics of development. "We are starting a new dawn of promoting politics of development, not just mere talk."

Odote said he is confident UDA will attract a huge following in the county just like. "Any party that is dominant in the county was started by people like us. I trust our brains will make UDA popular here like any other political party," said Odote.

Mr Ongati called for political tolerance in the county. "Let us give every member of a political party opportunity to sell their policies without violence," Ongati said.