Nine of the twelve candidates in the Mbeere North by-election are battling for the UDA ticket, signalling a heated nomination that could shape the party’s standing in Embu.

With tensions high, UDA leaders led by party chair Cecily Mbarire and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku met in Naivasha to strategise and contain potential fallout.

The retreat aimed to project unity, reinforce shared goals, and ensure credibility ahead of the mini poll.

The two-day meeting brought together all UDA aspirants for the Mbeere North seat, offering a forum to openly discuss both political and development issues facing the constituency.

The leaders used the platform to reflect on ongoing and planned projects, address bottlenecks in service delivery, and propose practical solutions for better livelihoods.

In a joint statement released on Sunday after the meeting, the party reiterated its commitment to unity, servant leadership, and development.

“The party celebrates the spirit of unity and focus that defined this retreat and looks forward to walking this journey together with the people, for the people,” read the statement signed by Cecily Mbarire, Josiah Thiriku, and Leonard Wamuthende.

The meeting also marked the first major political gathering since Geoffrey Ruku’s appointment to Cabinet, which leaders described as a sign of the Mbeere region’s rising influence and a win for inclusive governance.

His presence at the retreat was viewed as a show of solidarity with grassroots leaders and a push to strengthen UDA’s base in the area.

With nine candidates under the UDA banner, the internal race is shaping up to be intense, prompting party officials to call for a transparent and fair nomination process.

The leadership stressed the importance of democratic values and encouraged aspirants to maintain respect and discipline throughout the campaigns.

UDA said it will ensure that the nomination is free of bias and geared toward selecting a candidate who embodies the party’s values of integrity, accountability, and bottom-up development.

The Mbeere North seat became vacant following recent political changes, opening the way for what is expected to be a closely watched by-election.

UDA is positioning itself as the party to beat, using the Naivasha retreat to send a strong message of readiness and unity to voters.