President Ruto Votes in United Democratic Alliance Party Grassroots Elections

President William Ruto participated in the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots elections by voting. Just like many UDA supporters at Koilel Primary School, which was serving as the polling station, the President was donned in yellow, the signature colour of the UDA party. Ruto cast his vote at Koilel Primary School in Uasin Gishu County to elect United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots leaders. The President, on Saturday, January 10, 2025, joined mammoths of UDA party supporters who had turned out to elect party grassroots leaders in his home county. Despite his presidential status, he joined the queue like the rest of the voters and appeared jovial, engaging and acknowledging greetings from the thousands of UDA supporters who had turned up to strengthen their party. He was accompanied by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago, who was also dressed in yellow. Unlike other days when he is usually surrounded by hawk-eyed security officials armed with firearms and where any attempt to break security protocols is met with strict action, there was no such show on this day. He proceeded to cast his vote, with his index finger marked with a marker pen, just like the rest of the party voters. The president, after voting, has come out to commend all candidates who presented themselves to be voted as party grassroots officials, arguing that it’s part of the Bottom Up economic Agenda (BETA). “I commend all the candidates for stepping forward in numbers far beyond expectation to offer leadership at the grassroots. Their commitment strengthens our party and advances the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which is anchored on inclusive growth and shared prosperity.” In a move that portrayed him as a down-to-earth leader who understands and attends to the tribulations of Kenyans at the grassroots, he was seen mingling with the voters as he waited to exercise his democratic right like any other party fanatic. Elections postponed This comes days after the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party postponed grassroots elections in two Embu County wards that are scheduled to hold by-elections in February, prioritising party nominations instead. In a statement posted on its official Facebook account on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, the party announced that instead of conducting grassroots polls in Evurore and Muminji Wards, the day would be reserved for party nominations to pick candidates for the February 26, 2026, by-election. “UDA Party has postponed the grassroots elections in the two wards of Embu County that are due to hold by-elections in February. Instead of conducting the party’s grassroots polls in Evurore and Muminji Wards, the party’s National Elections Board has slated the day for the party’s nominations to pick the candidates for the February 26 by-election,” the statement read. UDA National Elections Board Chairman Engineer Anthony Mwaura announced that party members in the two Embu wards will pick their polling centre representatives on January 17, 2026, after the nominations. “Party nominations shall be conducted on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in the following wards: Embu County – Evurore ward, Muminji ward, Kakamega County – West Kabras. Polling Centre (Grassroots) elections for the above-mentioned three wards ONLY shall thereafter be conducted on Saturday, January 17, 2026,” the notice added.