The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) held grassroots elections across several counties on Saturday, 10 January 2026, including Kirinyaga. These elections allow party members to choose officials at the polling centre level, a key step in strengthening local party structures ahead of upcoming contests.

Voting was scheduled to start at 9:00 am and end at 3:00 pm, but several polling stations in Kirinyaga faced delays. Governor Anne Waiguru, who is the senior UDA leader in the county, reported that presiding officers failed to arrive at multiple stations, affecting Mwea, Gichugu, and Kirinyaga Central constituencies.

In Mwea Constituency, polling stations in Wamumu, Nyangati, and Murinduko wards were initially without presiding officers. Gichugu Constituency had problems at Gathoge Polling Station, while Mutito Polling Station in Kirinyaga Central also faced similar issues. Waiguru warned that no votes would be counted at centres where voting did not take place due to the absence of officers.

“There should be no votes recorded at these polling Centers if no voting occurs,” Waiguru posted on X.

By midday, the situation improved as presiding officers arrived at several stations and voting resumed. In Mwea Constituency, Murinduko, Nyangati, and Wamumu wards reported active voting, restoring confidence in the process. Thousands of candidates had stepped forward, showing strong interest in party leadership at the grassroots level.

“We wish to inform party members and the public that Presiding Officers have now arrived at the following polling stations and voting is currently ongoing,” Waiguru posted.

Waiguru confronts party rift

The elections come amid a simmering rift within Kirinyaga UDA. Just a day before the polls, Governor Waiguru confronted local MPs George Kariuki (Ndia), Mary Maingi (Mwea), and Robert Gichimu (Gichugu), who had opened a party office in Kutus town without authorisation.

Waiguru accused them of creating division and warned against parallel party structures. She insisted that leadership must be earned through elections, not declarations, and said she remained the senior-most UDA leader in the county by virtue of her position.

“I am the elected governor of Kirinyaga and automatically the senior-most leader in the party at the county level. If anyone believes they are senior to that office, they should first seek the governor’s seat,” Waiguru said.

Kirinyaga Central MP Gachoki Gitari supported Waiguru, emphasising that internal disputes would be settled through the party’s electoral process. County Assembly Speaker Muteti Murimi also disowned the new office, warning that unsanctioned actions could weaken the party and urged members to respect established leadership.

President William Ruto cast his vote at Koilel Primary School in Uasin Gishu County, joining thousands of party supporters. Ruto commended candidates for stepping forward, linking the elections to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and highlighting the importance of grassroots leadership in driving inclusive growth.