United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Hassan Omar has clarified remarks in which he appeared to suggest that dead voters could help secure President William Ruto’s re-election in the 2027 General Election.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Speaking during an engagement at UDA headquarters on Tuesday, September 15, Omar said his remarks had been misunderstood, explaining that his political communication often uses metaphors, proverbs and satire.

He said his style of communication in Nairobi may differ from how he speaks in Mombasa, where such expressions are understood within their cultural and political context.

Omar urged people unfamiliar with Mombasa’s style of political expression not to interpret his remarks literally.

📌 What You Need to Know

“I have used this as an opportunity because, as politicians, whenever we get a forum, we express our views and thoughts. I urge those who do not understand Kiswahili from Mombasa, or who do not understand the satire and metaphors used in politics, not to come to these meetings, lest they misinterpret our words and their meaning,” he stated.

The SG went on to add that his main concern was not whether UDA would win the next election, but how losing candidates might respond to the outcome.

According to Omar, some politicians could reject an unfavourable result and accuse their opponents of wrongdoing, creating a narrative that prepares the ground for disputing the outcome.

“There are people who want to tarnish our reputation. Our concern is not about winning; we have won, by God’s grace. Our concern is about those who may lose and the likelihood that they may refuse to accept the outcome, claiming that we stole from them or engaged in other wrongdoing. They are already building the narrative of a loser in waiting,” he said.

Omar maintained that his comments were made in the context of political debate and were not intended as a literal reference to deceased Kenyans participating in elections.

His clarification comes a day after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) rejected the possibility of dead people voting under Kenya’s biometric electoral system .

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke