UDA nominated Senator Karen Nyamu has urged the party to take action against Secretary-General Hassan Omar over controversial remarks concerning dead voters, saying his comments were personal views and should not be taken as the official position of the party.
Nyamu said Omar’s position as UDA Secretary-General gives his public statements considerable weight, meaning Kenyans could easily interpret his comments as representing the ruling party.
According to Nyamu, the controversy has created confusion at a time when political leaders should be working to protect public confidence in the electoral process.
Recent reports indicate that Nyamu called for Omar to be removed from his position, arguing that his remarks had caused significant damage to the party. She questioned why UDA had not taken disciplinary action against the Secretary-General.
The controversy started after Omar made remarks at a political gathering in Mombasa that were interpreted as suggesting fingerprints of deceased people could be used to cast votes in the 2027 General Election.
Omar later clarified his comments, saying they had been misunderstood. He stated that his intention was to encourage eligible Kenyans to register as voters, participate in elections and ensure every vote counts.
The remarks nevertheless sparked reactions from several political leaders. Government spokesperson Charles Owino previously described the comments as careless and said Omar should take personal responsibility for them, while distancing the government from the statement.
Nyamu’s latest position now puts additional pressure on the UDA leadership to respond to the controversy.
She maintained that statements made by senior party officials can have wider political consequences, particularly when the official holds a position associated with speaking on behalf of the party.
The disagreement comes as political parties begin preparing for the 2027 General Election, with questions surrounding electoral integrity expected to remain prominent.
Nyamu’s remarks have also generated discussion online, with the latest Facebook posts highlighting her call for UDA to take action against Omar.
The issue is likely to attract further attention as UDA leaders consider how to address the controversy and clarify the party’s position on the remarks.