UPA in bid to transform into a Gusii community political party of choice

When Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo campaigned at Magombo market in Nyamira County on May 5, 2022,  on a UPA ticket. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

United Progress Alliance (UPA) officials have intensified activities as they seek to strengthen the outfit with sources intimating the efforts are meant to make the party a Gusii political vehicle of choice.

UPA hopes to follow in the footsteps of Ford People, the only other political party, that came close to achieving that fete. Ford People was led by the late former Cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae

Ahead of last year's election, UPA was an underdog as it tried to push back against President William Ruto's UDA and ODM of Opposition chief Raila Odinga.

Until the 2007 elections, when Nyachae lost his parliamentary bid, the region had not been embracing leaders from other parties. It is a fete UPA hopes to achieve in its quest, according to insiders.

Sources said the party is working on a plan to entrench itself and win over the support of the region, as it builds a profile to challenge other parties in future elections.

In the last few months, UPA, which defied the odds to clinch a governor seat, has been on an overdrive to boost its support in the region.

Party Secretary General Jacob Bagaka, who is also the Deputy Speaker for Kisii County Assembly and the MCA Masige West, said they are not in competition with any party.

However, he admitted that they are keen on providing an alternative voice for the Gusii community.

"We have provided an alternative home for those who feel marginalized by other parties.We are doing membership registration targeting 20,000 new members in the next three months," he says.

Bagaka added: "Kisii is experiencing new political waves and the dynamics have changed. While, the Ford People wave was all about individuals, UPA is based on ideology and the aspirations of our people."

The party hopes to rekindle the political wave that Ford People enjoyed during its heydays.

Just a year after it was established, in 2021, UPA fielded candidates across Nyamira and Kisii in August last year. The party has 19 elected and nominated MCAs in the two counties.

The party won the Nyamira governor's seat, through Amos Nyaribo, and the Bonchari parliamentary seat, through Charles Ochoke.

Through its majority membership in the county assembly of Nyamira, UPA has the Majority Leader and Deputy Speaker positions.

Courtesy of the numbers, the assembly voted for one of its own, Enock Okero, as the assembly speaker. Okero contested the Manga Ward seat on the UPA party ticket.

The party won eight ward seats in Kisii, with its member Philip Nyanumba being elected Speaker. Dr Nyanumba was the UPA party candidate for the Bomachoge Borabu parliamentary seat in the August elections.

UPA is a rebrand of the Party of Economic Development. Its theme colours are red, white, and green, with a motorbike as its symbol. The party’s slogan is Kazi na Haki.

Top leaders in the region are said to be supporting the party in the ongoing membership recruitment.

One of the top leaders from the region told the Standard they will not wait for another round of embarrassment at the party primaries. "We do not wish to have a scenario where we are forced to part with millions of shillings to have a ticket from certain political parties. There is a feeling that we fund the party and in the 2027 elections, we meet at the bargaining table," the politician said.

The community elected MCAs from 13 political parties, with UDA, Jubilee, and ODM dominating.

Nyaribo, UPS's patron, said: "Gusii has struggled to speak in one voice. We are not forcing anybody to join us. We all understand what it means to be part of the Gusii leadership. Our people must find a common ground and UPA has provided it.