The stage has been set for Amani National Congress (ANC) to merge with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
ANC officials led by former party leader Musalia Mudavadi, now the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS, on Wednesday, endorsed the move at a meeting with Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
ANC party leader Issa Timamy told the meeting that the merger is an idea whose time had come.
“The Constitution of our party ANC permits us to merge with your party. The conversation therefore today is within our party rules. When we work together we become stronger we then succeed in enabling an effective and stronger government and better governance ecosystem in Kenya,” he said.
Nonetheless, Timamy pointed out that ANC wants the merger to be by amalgamation.
“Merger by amalgamation is our preferred process. By this, ANC and UDA will form a new political party which we shall all join as members. This will form a necessary legal cushion to our respective membership and more critically to our respectable elected members at the county assemblies and Parliament,” he stated.
Timamy added that the merger should not be an end itself but the beginning of new era of innovation and progress.
“The ultimate goal should not be just about merging parties but merging visions aspirations and futures. Together we can build a stronger more inclusive and prosperous nation,” he added.
Timamy, who is also the Lamu governor was quick to point out that change is never easy adding that it is natural to feel uncertain about the future.
“Nevertheless, we must manage the change so as to manage the affairs of our people better,” he added.
Mudavadi urged ANC officials and members to be part of a bigger formation. “Let us be pound-wise, not pound-foolish politically,” he stated.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary, who resigned from the party following his appointment, said it was not practical for him to have candidates against the President.
“Who signed the gazette notice that made me Prime Cabinet Secretary? Would be fair if I am the Prime Cabinet Secretary and then I sponsor a candidate to take on the person who appointed me to the position. It is a serious conflict of interest,” he explained.
Mudavadi added that the logical thing to do is to work together so that “his candidate is my candidate and my candidate is his candidate.”
“After my moment of meditation, where is the best place to work and direct ANC to? I am satisfied that with President William Ruto you’re in safe hands.”
He added that he is the safe pair of hands that he was referred to as ANC party leader. “The alternative would have been to be quiet and let you go in the wilderness. That would have been highly irresponsible of me,” he stressed.
Mudavadi was quick to point out that the President did not force the merger.
“President has not forced. This has been a conversation going on. I believe you are safer working with him than being out in the wilderness. Embrace this moment,” he said.
“All we want is victory for the team and the team leader is President William Ruto.
Ruto said he was keen to consolidate and solidify the place of democracy in Kenya.
“Kenyans want a country run by them, not the deep state. I will make sure that as a democratic country, all institutions work for Kenyans. It is the way to take Kenya into the future,” he explained.
The President said strong political parties are the foundation of national unity and strong democratic governance.
To consolidate their role in democracy, Ruto said political parties must cease being mere election vehicles and become the rallying point for national cohesion and transformation.
Present at the State House were ANC Secretary-General Omboko Milemba (Emuhaya MP) and National Chairman Kelvin Lunani, UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire, UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.