Silas Jakakimba has publicly explained his decision to attend the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) aspirants’ forum held at State House, Nairobi, on Wednesday, marking a notable political moment for the lawyer who has previously been associated with opposition politics.
In a detailed statement, Jakakimba who was once an aide to the late ODM leader Raila Odinga said the forum brought together 12,353 aspirants and offered a platform for participants to engage directly with the ruling party’s manifesto, performance scorecard, and future plans.
The meeting was presided over by President William Ruto in his capacity as UDA party leader, with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi also addressing the gathering.
Jakakimba described the forum as an opportunity to “understand, appreciate and interact” with UDA’s agenda, noting that discussions focused on governance, development priorities, and long-term national planning.
He linked his attendance to his stated political interest in Suba North Constituency ahead of the 2027 General Election, signalling a possible shift or reconfiguration in his political engagement.
President Ruto told the aspirants that UDA is strengthening its grassroots structures to position itself as a national and inclusive party.
He said the ruling party aims to move away from tribal, divisive, and personality-driven politics, instead promoting agenda-based leadership anchored in unity, growth, and shared prosperity.
Ruto also pledged greater inclusion of women in leadership, committing to fair and democratic party nominations.
He claimed that more than 80 per cent of UDA’s manifesto commitments have already been delivered under the bottom-up economic model, arguing that the economy has stabilised and that Kenyans are beginning to see tangible benefits.
According to figures shared at the forum, the aspirants included 149 gubernatorial hopefuls, 279 Senate aspirants, 323 women representative contenders, 1,372 parliamentary aspirants, and 10,230 MCA hopefuls.
Jakakimba’s presence at the high-profile meeting is likely to fuel political debate, particularly given his past alignment with opposition causes, as Kenya’s political landscape gradually shifts toward the 2027 elections.