UDA grassroots elections record high turnout in Kisumu despite minor hitches
By Viola Kosome, April 23, 2026The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots elections in Kisumu County kicked off with impressive voter turnout across hundreds of polling centres, signalling growing political engagement in a region often perceived as politically homogeneous.
Speaking at Nyalunya Primary School on April 23rd, George Ayogi, the acting chairperson of Kisumu County, expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that large numbers of residents had shown up to participate in the exercise.
“This is my polling centre, and so far we are very grateful because our people have turned up in big numbers not only here at Nyalunya Primary School but also across the 761 polling centres within Kisumu County,” he said.
According to Ayogi, the process has largely been smooth, with only a few isolated challenges reported in areas such as Masogo Primary School in Nyando and parts of Kisumu West.
He said the issues were quickly resolved through coordination with government officials.
“We had a challenge at Masogo Primary School in Nyando, but it was sorted out after consultations with the County Commissioner and the Director of Education. A few places like Kisumu West also had challenges, but they were resolved,” he explained.
He added that the main difficulty experienced involved delays in capturing some voters’ identification details using the digital kits, leading to temporary queues at certain polling stations.
“The challenge we have experienced is that some IDs are not being captured properly in the kits. But the party secretary is sorting that out. We already have close to 200 people who have voted, while others are still waiting for the issue to be resolved,” Ayogi noted.
Digital vote, rising turnout
The elections are being conducted digitally, with mobilization largely driven through online platforms, including WhatsApp groups connecting polling officials and party members across Kisumu and the wider Nyanza region.
Ayogi urged residents to turn out in large numbers and take part in the process, emphasizing the importance of grassroots participation in shaping leadership.
“I would like to invite all residents of Kisumu County to go to their respective polling centres to participate because it is your right to elect leaders of your choice. This is also a clear demonstration that Kenyans do not want this issue of zoning. They have come out to say no to zoning,” he said.
At Victoria Primary School in Kisumu Central, Acting UDA Kisumu County Vice Chairperson Beatrice Amondi echoed similar sentiments, describing the exercise as transparent and encouraging.
“We are here to vote, and what you see behind me is a clear indication of the exercise going on. This shows that UDA is a household name, and we are in the grassroots and in the homes,” she said.
Amondi, who is also vying for the women’s representative position in Kisumu and is a voter at the polling station, expresses satisfaction with the turnout and the conduct of the election.
“I’m very delighted to see quite a number of voters turn out here to exercise their democratic right. It is a free, fair, and credible election, and the exercise has been smooth so far,” she stated.
She added that the elections reflect a shifting political landscape in the region, challenging the notion of uniform political allegiance.
“This is another clear indication that in Nyanza we do not have a political monolith. It’s a mixture everywhere, and everybody has a right to exercise their democratic rights,” Amondi said.
Although some polling stations experienced a delayed start due to minor logistical issues, Amondi confirmed that the situation had been rectified.
“We started a little bit late, about an hour or so, due to some miscommunication, but that has been sorted out. As you can see, people are here and the exercise is going on,” she said.
The ongoing grassroots elections are expected to play a crucial role in shaping UDA’s local leadership structures, with party officials expressing optimism over the high level of participation witnessed across the county.