President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance party has merged with Amani National Congress to form the United Democratic Party.
UDA chairperson Cecily Mbarire announced that Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, who was ANC’s party leader, will be the new outfit’s deputy party leader.
This means Deputy President Kithure Kindiki ceases to be the ruling party's deputy leader.
Mbarire further announced that Kelvin Lunani, who was ANC’s chair will be United Democratic Party’s vice chair.
She added that Omboko Milemba, who was ANC’s secretary general, will be the new party’s deputy secretary general.
The merger event held at State House, Nairobi, was witnessed by President William Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi.
Mudavadi ceded ANC's party leadership position to Timamy upon his inclusion into the Kenya Kwanza government.
“We are extremely happy as UDA that finally, we have come to the end of the process. The process stalled because we had bottlenecks and challenges everywhere," Mbarire said.
"Our new deputy party leader Kithure Kindiki opened up the process and took care of every challenges,” she added.
Mbarire 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 also be rebranded ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“The party has incorporated ANC’s identity symbols in the logo, imagery, topography and shall resultantly undertake myriad changes in the governance and structure of the party,” she explained.
She said ANC secretariat members will be included in the new formation.
“The said officials shall incorporate other staff members and integrate structure organs and modalities of ANC into the new party,” Mbarire said.
She added that the new outfit will harmonise core values and embark on a membership recruitment drive.
“We have also formed a merger committee to ensure within 90 days, this happen,” she said.
“The new party will then embark on renewed efforts to promote inclusivity democracy and build a robust democratic party that transcends the political landscape of the nation.”
