The Farmers’ party of Kenya has dismissed media reports that they have merged with the UDA party led by President William Ruto.
About six parties among them the Umoja na Maendeleo Party the Farmers Party, Economic Freedom Party, Chama cha Mashinani, the National Agenda Party, and Chama Cha Kazi were earlier said to have folded and joined UDA Party.
Speaking to Star, Farmer’s party leader Irungu Nyakera said the Farmers Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) met in Nairobi on Tuesday and reiterated that the party is intact and independent as a legal body.
Irungu Nyakera, expressed regret that, after meeting the new UDA Secretary General, Cleophas Malala, on February 17, 2023, a misleading media communiqué was sent out saying that the Farmers Party was one of six Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties that had dissolved to join UDA.
“During the meeting with UDA, our discussions centred on areas of partnerships among Kenya Kwanza parties and not on mergers or dissolution of the partners, indeed, whatever the media reported or was informed of is untrue given that Farmers Party has not deliberated or considered its dissolution and supposed absorption by UDA,” he said.
Malala has been calling for the folding of parties affiliated with UDA in Kenya Kwanza so that they can join the ruling outfit.
During a church service on Sunday, March 5, Malala reiterated his call for senior government officials clinging to their parties to dissolve their political outfits and embrace a united front in government.
“You cannot be in Cabinet and still belong to another political party. That is contempt to our President. All parties in Kenya Kwanza must dissolve, join UDA, and have just one strong party,” Malala pointed out.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula had earlier dismissed calls by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala to dissolve affiliate parties and merge with UDA.
Wetangula argued that Kenyans are democratic and that voters should be left to make political choices to ensure the country runs well.
Earlier, officials from the Amani National Congress (ANC) party also dismissed calls to merge with UDA.
“We are not going to fold our party. If anything, we are planning to rejuvenate and strengthen our party from the grassroots level. ANC will remain vibrant,” its party leader Issa Timamy said.
Media reports indicate that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party is set to merge with all the parties within the Kenya Kwanza fold to form a big political machine in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
Moses Kuria’s led Chama cha Kazi was the first to announce they will dissolve and joins the ruling party UDA.
