The Democratic Party is planning to convene a meeting of its top decision-makers organ soon to determine its next steps after exiting the Kenya Kwanza alliance.
The DP party is linked to Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi who resigned as party leader in 2022.
Party Secretary General Jacob Haji stated that the party will explore various options, including fielding a presidential candidate in the 2027 general election.
He also indicated that the DP may consider forming a coalition with like-minded political parties to strengthen its position ahead of the next polls.
“We are waiting for the 30-day notice to lapse so that we can be officially cleared by the Registrar of Political Parties before our National Executive Council (NEC) meets to map out the next steps,” Haji told The Star in a phone interview.
Haji emphasized that the party’s leadership would be cautious in forming new alliances to avoid repeating past mistakes.
“We are scouting for like-minded partners who will listen and work collaboratively to prevent us from ending up in the same situation as before,” he said.
Haji confirmed that the NEC meeting would take place as soon as the 30-day notice to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) expires.
Muturi had joined Kenya Kwanza through the DP party under an agreement signed in May 2022, making the party one of the alliance’s constituent members.
On March 12, Muturi acknowledged that the DP party had issued a notice to exit the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
“I just saw the letter as well. Whether I agree with it or not, it is a decision made by an authorized organ of the party,” Muturi said in an interview with Citizen TV.
However, Muturi stated that the party was not obligated to inform him of its intent to leave the coalition, as it has the autonomy to make independent decisions.
The party had officially written to Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu on March 7, issuing a 30-day notice of withdrawal from Kenya Kwanza.
“Kindly take notice that our stay in Kenya Kwanza is no longer tenable due to prevailing political developments,” reads the notice, signed by DP Secretary General Dr. Jacob Haji and dated March 7.
“The Democratic Party of Kenya, through this letter, hereby gives a 30-day notice to exit the coalition, as stipulated in Clause 8 of the coalition agreement.”
By law, the ORPP has no authority to reject a political party’s decision to withdraw from a coalition, provided that a 30-day notice is issued.
The letter was addressed to the chairperson of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition secretariat and copied to the secretaries general of Ford Kenya, UDA, and Maendeleo Chap Chap.
It was also co-signed by Democratic Party Chairperson Esau Kioni.
