President William Ruto on Friday set the record straight over the Kenya Kwanza affiliate party merger talks.
Speaking at the Bomas of Kenya, Ruto said the decision for affiliate parties to merge with UDA under the ruling coalition will be by consensus not by force.
"Nimeskia wengine wetu wakisema hawa wenzetu lazima wafanye hivi na vile, hapana. Unasema tu ni vizuri kama wangejiunga na sisi,"he said.
(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)
The Head of State said it is through dialogue and agreements that they can persuade the Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties to join UDA party.
"We can talk and agree so that they can come and help us be a strong party in Kenya," Ruto added.
UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala has been calling on Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula to dissolve their ANC and Ford Kenya parties respectively and align with UDA.
Malala said this would give them a vantage point as they position themselves for the presidency in the 2032 presidential race.
The UDA secretary general said ANC “is a village party” as he asked its members to join UDA.
The former Kakamega Senator who resigned as a member of the Amani National Congress (ANC) party for Ruto’s UDA said as is, the ANC “cannot produce a presidential candidate”.
Malala stated that the dissolution of the parties will make UDA a formidable force in the 2027 elections.
ANC has, however, maintained that it was not going to dissolve and join the UDA.
A section of Ford Kenya party youths have also criticised Malala for his stand on the merger.
Led by Ford Kenya’s National Youth President, Musa Chekai, and Bungoma County Youth Leader, William Chiveli, the youths said Malala’s remarks were his personal opinion and warned of potential divisions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Already, six political parties have agreed to dissolve and merge with the ruling party, UDA.
They include Umoja na Maendeleo Party led by former Governor Martin Wambora, the Farmers Party of Kenya, led by Irungu Nyakera, the Economic Freedom Party, led by Isaac Hassan Abey, Chama cha Mashinani, led by Mohamed Gulei, the National Agenda Party, led by Alfayo Agufana, and Chama cha Kazi Party led by Secretary General James Kimani.
Some of the high-profile politicians who are associated with the parties include Moses Kuria (Chama cha Kazi) and Isaac Ruto (Chama cha Mashinani).
The move is expected to give UDA a significant boost ahead of the next general elections.
