United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Hassan Omar has clarified controversial remarks in which he appeared to suggest that deceased and sick Kenyans could be involved in the 2027 General Election.
Omar said his reference to the “dead and sick” was not intended to suggest that deceased or incapacitated people would literally participate in voting. He described the expressions as rhetorical language meant to emphasise the need for high voter turnout.
“No one is contending that the deceased or the infirm will literally participate in the ballot,” Omar said in his clarification.
He explained that the words “dead” and “sick” were used as a metaphor rather than as a proposal concerning the actual participation of people unable to vote.
According to Omar, the language was deliberately exaggerated to communicate the importance of civic participation and encourage Kenyans to turn out in large numbers during the 2027 election.
“The expressions ‘DEAD and SICK’ were deployed as a rhetorical metaphor, deliberately hyperbolic language intended to convey the imperative of overwhelming civic participation and galvanise an exceptionally high voter turnout,” he said.
Omar accused those interpreting his remarks literally of deliberately misrepresenting their intended meaning.
“It is therefore disingenuous to construe a figurative expression as though it were a literal proposition,” he added.
The clarification comes after his remarks triggered criticism from opposition figures and renewed debate about the integrity of Kenya’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Critics had interpreted his comments as suggesting that the identities or biometric details of deceased Kenyans could somehow be used to influence the vote. The remarks also drew attention to longstanding concerns over the accuracy and management of Kenya’s voter register, including the removal of records belonging to deceased persons.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is expected to play a central role in ensuring that the voter register is accurate and that only eligible voters participate in the election.
Omar’s clarification seeks to draw a distinction between his political rhetoric and any suggestion of an actual plan to facilitate voting by deceased or infirm Kenyans.
The UDA official maintained that his central message was the need for political mobilisation and exceptionally high voter participation as Kenya prepares for the 2027 polls.