United Democratic Alliance (Kenya)

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is the current ruling political party in Kenya. Their slogan is "Kazi ni Kazi" (literally: A job is a job; All hustles matter)[1] and their symbol is a wheelbarrow. The party, initially called the Party of Development and Reforms, officially changed its name to UDA in December 2020.[2] The party became notable in January 2021,[3][4] and is allied with William Ruto,[5] the President of Kenya.[6][7]

United Democratic Alliance
LeaderWilliam Ruto
ChairpersonCecil Mbarire
First SecretaryVeronica Maina
Secretary-GeneralCleophas Malala
FounderWilliam Ruto
FoundedDecember 2020
Preceded byParty of Development and Reforms
HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
IdeologyConservatism
Political positionRight-wing
National affiliationKenya Kwanza
ColoursYellow
SloganKazi ni Kazi. (Work is work.)
National Assembly
144 / 349
Senate
32 / 67
Governors
22 / 47
Website
uda.ke

The party fielded candidates in March 2021 by-elections.[8][9] UDA nominated Ruto in the 2022 Kenyan general election, after he announced that he would leave the Jubilee Party in late 2021. Ruto picked Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate for the elections.[10]

In the 2022 general elections, UDA was able to garner 22 out of 47 seats in the Senate and 138 of the elected members of the National Assembly.[11]

The party uses wheelbarrow as the party's symbol which stands for "worth, respect, and dignity of work in pursuit of an unbiased society".[12] The party is founded based on principles of good governance, including; love, unity, freedom, peace, accountability, diversity, justice and equity.[13] The party also has received great support from the Kenyan population, boasting over 6,942,397 votes from registered members.[14]

UDA's vision is an equitably empowered Kenyan society living in a peaceful and united country.[15] UDA is a member of Kenya Kwanza.[16]

Misinformation on social media

During the August 2022 General Elections in Kenya, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party's social media was not spared from misinformation.

A Facebook post claiming that nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura has been appointed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party flagbearer for the Kiambu senatorial position was false.[17]

Another example of misinformation spreading online was a viral image that claimed to show Kilifi gubernatorial candidate Aisha Jumwa pleading to speak at a UDA rally in Malindi. However, PesaCheck confirmed that the image is not of Jumwa, and the claim is false.[18] Additionally, there were false claims that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was contesting the Elgeyo Marakwet Senatorial seat on a UDA Party ticket. [19]

There were claims that Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho had threatened to leave the Azimio La Umoja coalition and join UDA following Mike Sonko's clearance to vie for the Mombasa gubernatorial seat. PesaCheck investigated this claim and found it to be false.[20]

References
  1. "About Us – United Democratic Alliance". Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  2. Ng'etich, Jacob. "Ruto-allied party seeks change of identity". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  3. KTN News. "DP Ruto allies launch United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party". YouTube.
  4. Keter, Gideon. "Hustlers' march: Inside UDA's grand roadmap to 2022". The Star. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  5. Kibor, Fred. "Rift MPs: Ruto will use UDA to contest for presidency in 2022". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  6. "William Ruto is declared Kenya's next president". The Economist. August 18, 2022. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  7. Abuso, Victor (2021-01-14). "Kenya: Has Deputy President Ruto joined the new UDA Party?". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  8. KTN News. "DP Ruto's Next Party: Ruto's allies hint he will use UDA | Inside Politics with Ben Kitili". YouTube.
  9. Nyamori, Jacob Ngetich and Moses. "Battle lines drawn as UDA fields candidates in by-elections". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  10. "Kenya elections 2022: William Ruto picks Rigathi Gachagua as running mate". BBC News. 2022-05-15. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  11. "UDA, ODM to get lion's share of nomination slots in Parliament". Citizen Digital. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  12. "United Democratic Alliance – kazi ni kazi". Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  13. "About Us – United Democratic Alliance". Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  14. "United Democratic Alliance – kazi ni kazi". Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  15. "About Us – United Democratic Alliance". Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  16. Nash (2022-12-01). "Apply for the Hustler Fund Loan via your phone (USSD 254)". nashthuo.com. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  17. PesaCheck (2022-06-15). "FALSE: UDA has not appointed Isaac Mwaura the party's Kiambu senatorial flagbearer". Medium. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  18. PesaCheck (2022-07-18). "FALSE: This image does not show Kilifi gubernatorial candidate Aisha Jumwa pleading to speak at a…". Medium. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  19. PesaCheck (2022-10-21). "FALSE: Raila Odinga is not contesting the Elgeyo Marakwet senatorial seat on a UDA party ticket". Medium. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  20. PesaCheck (2022-07-20). "FALSE: Governor Joho has not threatened to leave Azimio for UDA following Mike Sonko's clearance". Medium. Retrieved 2023-03-01.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.