UDA suspends grassroots meetings in Gusii ahead of opposition tour
MP Sylvanus Osoro addressing UDA supporters during a consultative forum at a Kisii hotel on Thursaday
The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has suspended its ongoing grassroots sensitization meetings across the Gusii region for three days to pave the way for a planned tour by opposition leaders.
South Mugirango MP Sylivanus Osoro said the decision was made in the spirit of democracy and political tolerance, allowing opposition leaders adequate space to conduct their roadside engagements.
“This pause is intended to accord our competitors in the opposition sufficient space to carry out their activities as communicated through the press,” Osoro said in a statement on Sunday.
He urged UDA members, supporters, and residents of the Gusii region to maintain peace, mutual respect, and decorum during the period, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding every political player’s right to freely and safely engage with the public.
The grassroots sensitization meetings will resume on Thursday, February 26, and continue through March 14. The exercise is expected to cover all 65 wards in the Gusii region in preparation for the March 28 UDA grassroots elections to be held across polling centres.
Osoro thanked party members for what he described as their discipline and commitment, reiterating UDA’s dedication to peaceful, issue-based, and progressive politics.
Meanwhile, leaders of the United Opposition coalition are set to tour Kisii County from Monday. The organizers have described the visit as a major political engagement aimed at consolidating regional support.
The delegation will be led by former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and will include key coalition principals such as Kalonzo Musyoka and Rigathi Gachagua.
They are scheduled to hold a series of rallies and consultative meetings in Kisii and Nyamira towns, where they are expected to address issues affecting residents, including the rising cost of living, youth unemployment, infrastructure development, and agricultural support for small-scale farmers.
County leaders allied to the opposition say the visit underscores the region’s strategic political importance and reflects growing demand for inclusive governance and economic reforms.
Local authorities have confirmed heightened security measures in Kisii town to ensure orderly proceedings during the rallies. Businesses in the central business district are also preparing for increased activity as supporters from neighboring counties are expected to attend.
Political analysts view the tour as a calculated move by the opposition to solidify support in the Gusii region, historically considered a battleground in national politics.
The United Opposition has indicated that similar visits are planned in other regions in the coming weeks as it intensifies engagement with supporters across the country.