Hassan Omar Clarifies ‘Dead Voters’ Remarks, Cites Political Metaphor And Satire

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Hassan Omar has clarified his controversial statements regarding deceased voters, maintaining that his remarks were intended as political satire and metaphor rather than literal electoral strategy.

Speaking at UDA headquarters on Tuesday, September 15, Omar addressed the widespread backlash, explaining that his public communication often incorporates cultural expressions, satire, and proverbs common to Coastal political rhetoric. He urged critics unfamiliar with Mombasa’s stylistic idioms not to interpret his statements literally or out of context.

Omar asserted that the primary focus for the ruling party is not securing victory in 2027—which he expressed confidence in achieving—but managing how opposition figures handle a potential defeat. He argued that critics condemning his statements are deliberately misconstruing his words to build a pre-emptive narrative to challenge the election outcome.

The clarification follows official statements from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and senior government officials, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, emphasizing that Kenya’s biometric voter management system strictly prevents non-biometric or deceased individuals from casting ballots.