The United Democratic Alliance embarked on a countrywide popularisation and sensitisation programme ahead of the unveiling of the new party’s name, look and feel.
This is even as the officials assured members that no party had been swallowed in the UDA-ANC merger.
The UDA and ANC parties officially merged last Friday.
The new UDA party took its first meeting to Busia County where it met over 700 delegates and members drawn from both UDA and ANC.
UDA vice chairperson Kelvin Lunani chaired the meeting.
He was accompanied by Teso South MP, Mary Emase and Seasoned Lawyer Alutalala Mukhwana.
Busia County Chairpersons Maurice Chetambe (UDA) and Christopher Chessa (ANC) were also present.
"Together as a people, we must reflect on the shared and common ideals on the primacy of economic empowerment, peace and development,” Lunani said.
“We are reaching out to all our supporters and assuring them that we are forging a united front that will deliver this country to a new frontier. Soon there will be no ANC and no UDA, we will have a new baby, with a new name, a new face and a new future,” Emase said.
Mukhwana assured the delegates and members present during the meeting that no party has lost its identity to the other.
He said their identities will mutually be subsumed into each other to birth one new identity.
“This merger was by amalgamation. Until the lapse of the statutory 21 days in accordance with the Political Parties Act, each party shall still retain its identity as no party has been swallowed by the other. Thereafter, the Merger, by amalgamation, shall be deemed binding," he explained.
According to Mukhwana, the transitional committee has 90 days to work on key areas of the merger agreement, and unveil a totally new formation having a new logo, brand colour and slogans.
“Our merger is not by absorption/dissolution where one party is completely dissolved and joins another party that has not been dissolved. Therefore, Kenyans should not anticipate any by- election on grounds that there is a legislator who will automatically loose his or her seat in this process,” he explained.
Alutalala told the members that both parties have followed their constitution and procedures in making the merger decisions.
Lunani said plans are underway to consolidate the Western Kenya region under his leadership and collaboration with the apex leadership of the party and soon they will be in Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga and Trans Nzoia.
