President William Ruto's UDA party has begun talks aimed at convincing other parties in the Kenya Kwanza to fold ahead of 2027.
Secretary General Cleophas Malala said Thursday they are keen on having one strong and united party in the country before going into the next general election.
"We are having a consultative engagement with other parties, our objective being to build a perpetual political party resemblance of the ANC of South Africa and those in the US," said Malala.
ANC has governed South Africa since 1994.
He noted that they have already complied with all requirements of the office of the registrar of political Parties.
Speaking during the official handing over ceremony by the outgoing officials to the new team, Malala further stated that they are planning to start recruitment of new members with a target of 20 million members in the next two years.
He said they will be working tirelessly to ensure Ruto gets reelected for a second term in 2027.
The brief ceremony at the Hustler plaza saw the new officials given the party instruments which include the party Constitution and its nomination and election rules.
Noting that the bar has been set high, the SG also announced plans of opening vibrant offices in each of the 47 counties including those seen to be dominated by the opposition.
"I will be traversing the country with a view to registering more members and this will start this weekend. I will be in Kisumu to open the party office in Kisumu," he disclosed.
He stated that a total of 5,325 have already registered in the county.
The outgoing party chairman Johnstone Muthama challenged the new officials to strengthen the party from its current state.
He stated that he took over the party when it had only 53,000 but helped it grow now boasting over 8.8 million members.
Nominated Senator and former secretary general Veronica Maina said they are leaving the party when everything including the accounts is in order.
Maina also used the opportunity to thank President Ruto "for the opportunity he gave me to serve in the position".
She said, "Building the party and making it successful was a challenge."
The party is set to kick-start grassroots elections.
Incoming party chairperson Cecily Mbarire on her part lauded the outgoing team for their collective responsibility in building the party.
She said it took the official's hard work and dedication to make the party gain victory in the last poll.
Mbarire observed that being the first woman chairperson of a ruling party in the country a huge role was bestowed on her.
She pointed out that it is a great honour as a leader, to the county and women in the country having been picked for the position.
"We are keen on ensuring the party does not fall into the trap of other parties that have fallen in the country," said the Embu Governor.
She added, "We want it to remain the single largest party in the country...we want it to be like the ANC of South Africa."
