Eyes on Wetang’ula’s Ford-K as Mudavadi’s ANC merges with President Ruto’s UDA

President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has reorganised its top leadership following the merger with Amani National Congress (ANC), a party associated with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Following the merger, UDA will now have two deputy party leaders, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, who was the ANC Party Leader.

Emuhaya Member of Parliament Omboko Milemba, who was the ANC Secretary General, will will now deputise EALA MP Hassan Omar in the new-look UDA.

Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire remains the party’s national chairperson while Kelvin Lunani, who was the ANC chairman, has been given the vice-chair’s position.

Kitutu Chache MP Japheth Nyakundi is the party’s National Treasurer and Mwala MP Vincent Kawaya the National Organizing Secretary.

Earlier, reports had indicated that Prof Kindiki had been dropped as deputy party leader to pave way for Timamy but Omar issued a statement to put the record straight.

“A well-orchestrated scheme of misinformation intended to detract well-meaning citizens of our nation in the various sectors and formations of government and society,” Omar stated.

“The alarmists are determined to ensure our various programmes aimed at uniting Kenyans and pursuing our inclusive development agenda are disrupted or scuttled,” he added.

The merger event was held at State House, Nairobi, yesterday and was witnessed by President Ruto and  Mudavadi.

Mudavadi was the party leader of the ANC but ceded the position to  Timamy when he joined the Cabinet.

“We are extremely happy as UDA that finally, we have come to the end of this process, which was delayed because of had bottlenecks and challenges,” Mbarire said.

She disclosed that when Kindiki took office as UDA deputy party leader, he provided leadership that led to the resolution of the challenges.

“Further to the inclusion of former ANC officials in the leadership of the UDA Party, other staff members will also be incorporated into the secretariat of the party, while structures and organs of the ANC will be integrated into the UDA Party,” she said.

“The UDA Party shall undertake merger activities, including harmonisation of the shared core values, rebranding and membership recruitment drives, among other post-merger initiatives,” she added.

Ms Mbarire noted that the pre-merger coalition benefits and commitments in the Kenya Kwanza Coalition have been integrated into the merged party and will be available to advance the objectives of the new party.

She said the parties have also agreed on the transition, implementation and monitoring of all the undertakings of the merger agreement.

“The new party will therefore embark on the fundamental aspirations of promoting inclusivity, democracy and building a robust political party that transcends governments,” Ms Mbarire explained.

She assured that the new party will not lock out any part of the country.

“We are no longer the party of shareholding. You do not need a certificate of shareholding to join the new formation. It is a face of united Kenya, where we ought to be,” she said.

Mbarire announced that the new party will be rebranded ahead of the 2027 General Election.

“The party has incorporated ANC’s identity symbols in the logo, imagery, and topography and shall resultantly undertake myriad changes in the governance and structure of the party,” Mbarire explained.

It is believed that former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who doubled as the party’s deputy party leader, was not keen on UDA merging with the other affiliates, especially ANC and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya, as it will have worked to his disadvantage as he not party of his own.

Since he was impeached, Gachagua has severally regretted that he blindly shepherded Mt Kenya voters into UDA  without a party to negotiate and firm up their shareholding thus exposing them politically.

He has vowed never to allow such a thing to happen again and has assured to name a party in the coming days which the region will use in negotiating for power in 2027.

Following the success of the UDA-ANC merger, all eyes will now shift to Wetang’ula, whose party has rejected the calls to disband and join a super UDA on whose ticket Ruto will seek re-election.

President Ruto is keen to form a super alliance party modelled along the lines of the Chinese Communist Party that will bring together all Kenya Kwanza affiliates.