Ruto's UDA Merges With Mudavadi's ANC
The new formation will be called the United Democratic Alliance Party.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has officially merged with the Amani National Congress (ANC), which is associated with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
The new formation announced at a press briefing at State House by UDA Chairperson, Governor Cecily Mbarire, will be called the United Democratic Alliance Party.
According to Mbarire, the party would be rebranding following the merger. She noted that changes would be made to the party logo among other brand identities of UDA.
The party also announced new party officials. The new alliance party will be incorporating ANC's secretariat members, including directors and staff that will support the direction of the new formation.
President William Ruto shakes hands with his deputy, Kithure Kindiki at KICC, Nairobi on November 1, 2024. /PCS
Following the merger, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy will serve as the Deputy Party Leader, a move that sees Deputy President Kithure Kindiki officially dropped from the position. Kindiki was serving as the deputy party leader of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Kelvin Lunani was named as the Vice Chairman while Emuhaya MP Omboko Milema was named as the Deputy Secretary General.
"The United Democratic Alliance party and the Amani National Congress have today merged as one known as the United Democratic Alliance party which is also going to change its name in the branding," Mbarire announced on Friday, January 17.
"The party has incorporated ANC's identity symbols in the logo, imagery, and topography in the brand of the new party and shall resultantly make a myriad of changes in the governance and operations of the party."
Mbarire also indicated that a team had already been formed, which will assist with the merger set to be finalised within 90 days.
The party's merger committee will ensure that within the next 90 days, all merger activities, including incorporating ANCs identity symbols in the logo, topography imagery, and brand of the new merge party, to ensure full implementation and compliance.
This merger comes after months of talks and is expected to expand the ruling party that has a coalition agreement within Kenya Kwanza. According to Mbarire, the process of merging the two parties began early last year but was forced to stall following challenges the ruling party was facing.
However, she hailed Kindiki, for initiating it immediately after he ascended to the position. "The merger was scheduled for last year but stalled because of challenges and bottlenecks, but because of our new deputy party leader, he ensured to open up that process, unlocked and straightened all the obstacles to ensure we get here," Mbarire explained.
Mbarire revealed that the merger unlocked a new level for the party, noting that it is no longer a party that locked out the rest of the nation and no longer a party of shareholding. "This is the face of a united Kenya where every Kenyan needs to be," she emphasized.
The merger will be viewed by many as a strategic move as the Kenya Kwanza government embarks on planning how it will regain power after the 2027 general elections.
This is despite the unpopularity it has amassed amongst Kenyans and how the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President has shaken the political atmosphere,with many expressing that it would be difficult for Kenya Kwanza to repeat their victory tactics from 2022 in 2027.
