UDA merges with ANC, integrates ANC leadership into its new structure

From president.go.ke

President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance Party (UDA) and Amani National Congress (ANC) have merged to form the United Democratic Alliance Party.

UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire announced that Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, who was ANC’s party leader, will be one of the new outfit’s deputy party leaders.

Ms Mbarire, who is also the Governor of Embu County, also said Mr Kelvin Lunani, who was ANC’s chair, will be the new party’s vice-chair.

Mr Omboko Milemba, ANC’s secretary- general, now becomes the new party’s deputy secretary-general. Mr Milemba is also the MP for Emuhaya in Vihiga County.

The merger event was held at State House, Nairobi, on Friday and was witnessed by President William Ruto and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. Mr Mudavadi was the party leader of the ANC after he joined the Kenya Kwanza Government in 2022.

Mr Mudavadi ceded the party leadership position to Mr Timamy.

“We are extremely happy as UDA that finally, we have come to the end of this process, which was delayed because of had bottlenecks and challenges,” Ms Mbarire said.

She disclosed that when Deputy President Kithure Kindiki took office as UDA deputy party leader, he provided leadership that led to the resolution of the challenges.

“Further to the inclusion of former ANC officials in the leadership of the UDA Party, other staff members will also be incorporated into the secretariat of the party, while structures and organs of the ANC will be integrated into the UDA Party,” she said.

“The UDA Party shall undertake merger activities, including harmonisation of the shared core values, rebranding and membership recruitment drives, among other post-merger initiatives,” she added.

Ms Mbarire noted that the pre-merger coalition benefits and commitments in the Kenya Kwanza Coalition have been integrated into the merged party and will be available to advance the objectives of the new party.

She said the parties have also agreed on the transition, implementation and monitoring of all the undertakings of the merger agreement.

“The new party will therefore embark on the fundamental aspirations of promoting inclusivity, democracy and building a robust political party that transcends governments,” Ms Mbarire explained.