"We Won't Run Away": Defiant Hassan Omar Downplays UDA’s Ol' Kalou By-Election Defeat
Politics Updated: 17 July 2026 14:18 EAT
Photo courtesy: United Democratic Party Secretary General Hassan Omar speaking to the press at Hustler House in Nairobi
Following the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party's defeat in the Ol' Kalou parliamentary by-election, Secretary General Hassan Omar held a press briefing at Hustler Plaza to address the party's performance and counter claims that the party is losing its footprint in the Mount Kenya region. He insisted that UDA will not shy away from competing in any region, regardless of political headwinds.
"So hata if the results were even worse, if there was another one again tomorrow, we'll do it again... We do it again and again. We not run away."
Omar dismissed concerns raised by journalists regarding the significant margin between the winning Democratic Congress Party (DCP) candidate, Sammy Douglas Kamau, and UDA's Samuel Mushina. He argued that the former ruling Jubilee Party—which officially held the seat—suffered a far more humiliating defeat despite receiving backing from former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"Jubilee lost heavily a seat they were holding almost had no chance of defending it. UDA had a chance of recoving it."
Providing a statistical breakdown of the election outcome, the Secretary General analyzed Jubilee's performance to argue that the party has lost its ground. He pointed out that the former ruling party struggled to secure even minimal support across the constituency's numerous polling centers.
"Wajua kama uko na 144 polling centers m polling stations na upate 194 votes that is an average of 1.4 four votes purpoling station."
Omar also took the opportunity to critique the resurgence of regional and ethnic-based mobilization in the Mount Kenya region. He took a thinly veiled swipe at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for popularizing divisive "shareholding" political rhetoric, warning that such politics would backfire on its architects.
"Hii toxic ethnicity ilianzishwa na Riggy G, akaanza mambo ya shares mambo ya mlima... when you rattle a snake... siku moja mmoja itamuuma tu."
Ultimately, Omar emphasized that UDA remains a truly national party, contrasting it with competitors like the Wiper Party or the DCP. He characterized these rival groups as regional outfits that only field candidates in select strongholds, whereas UDA is determined to establish its presence and recruit members in every corner of the country.
Tags: Edit Editor's Pick Editors choice HASSAN OMAR Hassan Omar Hassan Ol Kalou MP Political Parties Political Party Political Partys Political Science Political tensions Politics Signs Signs Media Kenya Limited Signsmedia Signstv Signstvkenya Uda UDA
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FELIX MAKONA
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