GARISSA – The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) officially launched its office in Mandera on Saturday in an effort to expand its presence in North Eastern Kenya. However, the event quickly turned into a battleground for political rivalry as United Democratic Movement (UDM) party leader and Mandera Senator Ali Roba dismissed the move as a publicity stunt orchestrated for President William Ruto’s upcoming visit.
Ruto is expected to tour Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties in the coming days, with sources indicating that he will chair a historic Cabinet meeting in Garissa on Friday—the first of its kind in the municipality since Kenya gained independence.
His visit comes at a time when the region, traditionally seen as an opposition stronghold, has shown growing support for his administration, particularly following the revocation of stringent vetting requirements for residents of North Eastern seeking national identity cards.
The President is also expected to announce the reopening of the Kenya-Somalia border and officially launch a new immigration office in Garissa, as he popularize his government’s commitment to economic and security cooperation in the region.
Roba Dismisses UDA’s Move as Political Gimmick
In a statement on X, Senator Roba accused politicians who attended the UDA office opening of opportunism, questioning why they had not been active in party affairs for the past two and a half years.
“If the group of political rejects and opportunists at today’s UDA office opening rally in Mandera truly cared about the party, where were they for the past two and a half years when UDA had no offices in Mandera? Why now?” Roba wrote.
He criticized the move as a rushed initiative designed to create the illusion of political loyalty while the President was watching.
“The President will visit and leave in a few days. What next? A rushed and poorly planned initiative is bound to be short-lived. If they genuinely had the party’s best interests at heart, they should have focused on organizing a united and dignified welcome for the President instead of sowing division by pitting sister parties against each other,” he added.
Rising Political Tensions In Mandera
The establishment of a UDA office in Mandera is widely seen as part of the ruling party’s strategy to consolidate its influence in North Eastern Kenya, where UDM and opposition parties maintain a strong political foothold.
UDM, initially part of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition, switched allegiance to President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition after the 2022 elections. However, tensions between the two parties have been growing, with UDM increasingly asserting its independence.
Mandera County overwhelmingly backed Azimio’s presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, in the 2022 election, handing him 106,279 votes (78.40%) compared to Ruto’s 28,351 votes (20.91%). The figures highlight the challenge UDA faces in establishing dominance in the region.
Despite being part of the Kenya Kwanza government, UDM has sought to position itself as the primary political force in North Eastern, a move that has at times put it at odds with UDA’s national leadership.
Ahmednasir: UDM Must Take Center Stage
Constitutional lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has called for unity among Northern Kenya’s leaders under the UDM banner.
He emphasized that UDM must be at the forefront of regional political discussions and not be sidelined by national party politics.
“This is not the time for political hawkers, political ‘cathaqatees,’ and ‘jebleyss’ to shout loud and make a fool of themselves by pretending to be ‘closer’ to the President,” Ahmednasir said, in a veiled attack on leaders seen as leveraging Ruto’s visit for personal gain.
While reaffirming his support for UDA, he insisted that political strategy and decorum demanded that UDM be given the space to lead in North Eastern Kenya.
“Even though President Ruto and I are in UDA for the long haul, political decorum and broader strategic thinking require that UDM must be given space in Northeastern Kenya,” he said, adding that both UDA and ODM should take a backseat during Ruto’s visit.
Ruto’s Visit: Politics or Development?
As President Ruto prepares for his first official tour of North Eastern since taking office, his visit will focus on key developmental issues such as infrastructure, security, and economic empowerment. However, the underlying political tensions between UDA and UDM are likely to take center stage.
With the 2027 elections looming, the battle for political dominance in the region is intensifying.
Political commentator Abdullahi Korane noted that UDM leaders are focused on strengthening their influence while maintaining their support for President Ruto within the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
“UDA’s latest efforts indicate a renewed push to gain a foothold in a region that has traditionally favored the opposition,” Korane told Kulan Post.
It remains uncertain whether Ruto’s visit will heal the growing political divide or exacerbate existing tensions. What is clear, however, is that the battle for North Eastern Kenya’s political future is just beginning.
