Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has declared that the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) remains a strong national party with broad appeal across the country, saying it is open to welcoming more leaders and aspirants ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking on Saturday in Maralal Town, Samburu County, where he received senior Jubilee Party officials who defected to UDA, Kindiki said the party, led by President William Ruto, does not discriminate on the basis of tribe, religion or region and is committed to delivering development to all parts of the country.
"We welcome all of them to UDA. This is a national party that accommodates everyone without considering their tribe, religion or region because we are all Kenyans and we all deserve development," Kindiki said.
The Deputy President said President Ruto's administration had prioritised equitable development, including in regions that had previously been marginalised.
"President Ruto has ensured that all communities including those in Northern Kenya are no longer discriminated against because he wants all Kenyans to benefit from the government's development agenda," he said.
Among those who officially joined UDA were Jubilee Party Women League Chairperson Maison Leshoomo, former Samburu North MP Alois Lentoimaga, former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal, and more than six Members of the County Assembly elected on Jubilee and KANU tickets, alongside dozens of aspirants seeking elective positions in the 2027 polls.
Kindiki assured the new members that all aspirants would be treated fairly within the party, saying nominations for elective seats would be conducted transparently.
"All parties supporting the President will work together to ensure the President wins. For other seats, voters will decide who will lead us. Those who will lose will be considered for other positions in government," he said.
The Deputy President also highlighted several infrastructure and development projects underway in Samburu County, including the tarmacking of the Maralal-Morijo-Baragoi-South Horr-Loiyangalani Road, construction of link roads in Maralal Town, modern markets in Maralal and Baragoi, and the Affordable Housing Programme.
"There wasn't a single allocation of funds for tarmacking of roads when the President came into office but hundreds of kilometres of roads are now being constructed in Samburu County," Kindiki said.
Samburu Governor Lelelit Lati pledged support for President Ruto and Kindiki's re-election bid, attributing the county's backing to ongoing government development projects.
"We are not going anywhere because we are witnesses of the great development by President Ruto's government," Lati said.
The defectors said improved infrastructure, increased government appointments for Samburu professionals and enhanced security influenced their decision to join the ruling party.
"We have seen what President Ruto has done here in Samburu. We already have 11 Samburu professionals employed in senior positions in government and we know more development is in the pipeline," Leshoomo said.
Former MP Lentoimaga echoed the sentiments, saying residents had witnessed tangible gains under the current administration.
"We didn't have affordable houses, we have seen roads being constructed and our people serving in government. Security has improved in Samburu. I have seen this and I have decided to support this government," he said.