Ruto Corrects Malala Over Merging Different Parties Into UDA

President William Ruto on Friday, September 29 made a rare address regarding the Kenya Kwanza affiliate party merger talks in a bid to woo as many parties as possible to join the ruling coalition.

Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya during the party's National Governing Council, the Head of State stated that the decision to merge affiliate parties with UDA will be by consensus, not by force.

The President appeared to rectify UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala's calls to the affiliate parties, among them Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula's outfits Amani National Congress (ANC) and FORD-Kenya parties respectively to fold and support UDA in strengthening itself in Kenya's political environment.

Ruto assured that it is only through dialogue and agreements that they can convince the KK affiliates to join UDA, a tactic the President has been using to win over politicians even previously aligned with the opposition.

President William Ruto speaking at the Bomas of Kenya for the National Governing Council at Bomas of Kenya on September 29, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO

"I've heard some of us saying our colleagues must do this or that, no. You just say it would be better if you joined us.

"We can talk and agree so that they can come and help us be a strong party in Kenya," Ruto said.

Regarding UDA's move to hold party elections, President Ruto remarked that the time was right for the party owners to have a say on who leads them and in what capacity, responding to leaders who requested for postponement of the elections set for December 2023.

"In this party, you all know we made last-minute arrangements and God helped us, we succeeded. All of us, including me as party leader, no one elected me. Even Riggy G (Rigathi Gachagua) and Cleophas Malala, the secretary general.

"Now the owners of the party will have a say. This party has its owners and they have to speak," the President said.

Ruto insisted that it is better to have the elections now so that if things don't go well, they can start planning for the next steps.

He also warned that no one will be handed a position in the party, just because they are friends with him as the party leader or the deputy president.

"It's better now so that in case things don't go as planned we'll know how to plan ourselves. Let the owners of the party decide," he appealed.

"No one will be handed a position because he or she is my friend or because Riggy G (Gachagua) is my friend. Be friends with party members. I will also look for them in the grassroots."

To prepare themselves for the elections, UDA announced proposed amendments to the party structure and top leadership.

Vice Chair Omar Hassan proposed that Deputy governors join the County Government Caucus of the party, a move aimed at involving the deputy governors in the affairs and governance of the ruling party.

UDA also noted that leaders eyeing the county chairperson position will vie without running mates so as to ensure gender balance in the party structure.

In the changes, the first runners-up of the opposite gender will automatically assume the position of the deputy county chairperson.

"Currently, there are only 7 officials at the Constituency Committee.  We are increasing it to 13," Hassan remarked.

The constituency Committee officials will include a chairperson, secretary, treasurer, and three representatives of youth, women, and Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD).

The 7 selected constituency leaders will automatically become part of the party's top decision-making organ - the National Delegates Conference (NDC).

UDA delegates at the Bomas of Kenya for the National Governing Council at Bomas of Kenya on September 29, 2023. /WILLIAM RUTO