A team allied to Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has secured a resounding victory in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots elections, winning by a significant landslide. Provisional results released by the party indicate that Team 1, representing Governor Waiguru's camp, garnered an impressive average of 80.075 per cent of the total votes cast across the county. In contrast, Team 2, the opposing faction, managed to secure 19.925 per cent of the votes.

The UDA polling centre party officials' elections, which determined the party's grassroots leadership, were conducted on Saturday. Team 2 was notably led by Ndia Member of Parliament George Kariuki, who received support from Mwea MP Mary Maingi and her Gichugu counterpart, Gichimu Githinji, indicating a clear division within the county's UDA political landscape.

Further breakdown of the results revealed strong regional support for Governor Waiguru's Team 1. Kirinyaga Central recorded the highest backing, with 95.5 per cent of voters supporting Team 1. This was followed by Ndia at 82.5 per cent, Gichugu at 76.8 per cent, and Mwea at 65.5 per cent. Upon the announcement of these results, Governor Waiguru extended her congratulations to both teams and issued a fervent plea for party members to foster unity moving forward. "Congratulations to Team 1 for winning the UDA elections with 80 per cent of the total votes cast. I am honored to lead such a remarkable team. Well done," she stated, celebrating her team's success.

Prior to the elections, Governor Waiguru had expressed strong confidence that her aligned candidates would sweep the grassroots polls. She used this opportunity to decisively address what she termed as "false claims of party supremacy" from rival factions within the UDA. Without explicitly naming individuals, Waiguru targeted elected leaders who had been attempting to assert leadership over UDA in the county, despite her position as the sitting governor elected on the party's ticket in 2022. She emphatically declared, "I am the undisputed leader of UDA in this county. No one can operate from behind closed doors and assume they are leading the party here," asserting that the grassroots elections would clearly demonstrate "who the real UDA leader in the county is."

Beyond the immediate internal party contest, Governor Waiguru strategically framed these elections as a pivotal step towards solidifying UDA’s influence in the vital Mt Kenya region. She highlighted their importance in bolstering President William Ruto’s prospects for re-election in 2027, arguing that the region's continued strong alignment with the government is crucial for protecting and advancing its interests.

Despite her team's triumph, the Governor also extended an olive branch to the opposing camp. Acknowledging Team 2 as "worthy competitors," she commended their efforts: "To our worthy competitors, Team 2, you did your best. Now let us all forge forward to strengthen our UDA Party in Kirinyaga, with all protocols duly established." This statement underscored her commitment to post-election reconciliation and party cohesion.

The elections, however, were not without their challenges, with logistical issues leading to reported delays in the opening of several polling stations across the county. Nevertheless, Waiguru noted that voter turnout remained encouraging despite these setbacks. After casting her own vote at Kiamugumo Primary School polling centre, she remarked, "Bearing in mind this was not a general election but a party election, we take the turnout as encouraging, and proof that the party has solid support on the ground." Despite the operational difficulties, Waiguru confirmed that the elections were conducted peacefully and credibly, reiterating her dedication to uniting all party members and strengthening UDA’s grassroots structures in Kirinyaga County as the party advances.