President William Ruto on Friday appeared to differ with UDA secretary general Cleophas Malala, saying Kenya Kwanza affiliates will not be forced to fold up and join the party.
This emerged even as the President who is the UDA party leader, rolled out plans to transform his outfit into what he termed a big and strong national political party ahead of the 2027 polls.
Malala who was appointed the interim UDA secretary general in February, has since been going round the country registering new members and asking Kenya Kwanza affiliates to fold up and join his party.
That call has caused rifts with the ruling coalition with members of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi's ANC party and those from Ford-Kenya led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula opposing the calls.
Mudavadi and Wetang’ula who shared a podium with Malala in Kakamega last weekend, appeared to be reading from different scripts especially on the stance on Luhya unity, which Malala insisted can only be achieved if all leaders rally firmly behind Ruto by joining UDA.
The former Kakamega senator said parties that have roots in Western region such as ANC and Ford Kenya must be folded for all leaders to join UDA.
While Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria had long ago started the process of folding his Chama Cha Kazi to join UDA, Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua remains the leader of his Maendeleo Chap Chap party.
Mudavadi meanwhile had ceded the leadership of his ANC party to Lamu Governor Issa Timamy when he joined Cabinet.
On Friday, Ruto said no one will be forced to join UDA even as he promised that under his leadership, he will ensure that all the 7.2 million members of the party are involved in decision making processes.
He said the party will hold digital grassroots elections, strengthen its messaging and also focus on a roadmap to empower its members as part of a grand plan to build a gigantic movement.
He was addressing the party's National Governing Council at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi.
The President used the occasion of the party's first NGC since romping to power last year, to caution Malala against trying to force affiliates to collapse their parties and join UDA, insisting that the process will only onboard the willing.
"We want your green light to find how they can work with us by joining so that we can have a strong party. It is not a must that they join us as I have heard some people say. Those willing will join and those who don't want we will find a way of working with them going forward," Ruto said.
Malala has previously warned that UDA will head into the next general election divorced from political parties that do not agree with the party's vision to fold up Kenya Kwanza affiliates.
However, Ruto on Friday said while he is determined to cobble up a mega political movement that will outlive the current political leaders, he will not force other leaders to fold their outfits to pave the way for UDA.
"We want to build the foundation of a strong national party, I am a great believer of a strong national party and an open party where people are free to express themselves and also contribute to the growth of the party," Ruto said.
The President challenged elected and nominated leaders to be at the frontline to articulate the implementation of the ruling party's manifesto so that Kenyans can understand what the government is doing.
He insisted that party members must participate in the party affairs through taking part in internal party elections and monthly contribution which he said are instrumental in the growth of parties.
"Contributions for the party are not negotiable. You can't claim that you are a member but when it comes to contributions you disappear," he said.
He also revealed that he will support the push by MCAs to get the ward development fund to ensure their financial autonomy and also establish a pension fund for them just like MPs.
Ruto is set to meet the MCAs at State House in the next two weeks to discuss issues to do with their concerns over salaries and allowances.
At the same time, the President insisted that the forthcoming UDA party elections in December are free, fair, credible and a demonstration of the maturity of the party.
He warned those who will be seeking elective seats within the UDA party from using his name or that of his deputy to campaign, saying they should seek votes without intimidating others.
"I have heard people say that this is not the right time for elections. Elections are here and let the people decide for themselves who their leaders will be. Don't use our names, look for votes, for us to build a strong party we must involve all the 7.2 million members."
The President told the delegates that the Kenya Kwanza government is on track to delivering on its manifesto, affirming that his administration shall deliver on what it promised Kenyans during the campaigns.
"The government that you elected is working and will change Kenya for the better and make it that country that we have always wanted it to be,'' Ruto said as he outlined his achievements over the last one year.
The President told the UDA elected and nominated leaders that the government has made several interventions on policy and budget to stabilise the economy and put money in the pockets of the people.
He said the government has so far loaned Sh36 billion to Kenyans through the Hustler Fund, reduced the cost of fertliser, rolled out the housing plan that he said has put up some 70,000 houses over the last one year.
"Apart from lowering the cost of fertiliser, we are looking into the price of other commodities including cotton seeds among others to reduce the cost of living because it is the pragmatic way," Ruto added.
He also waded into the controversy surrounding the privatisation of the Mombasa Port, affirming that the government has no intention of privatising the facility.
He said the government will work with the private sector on a concession process to increase efficiency and investment.
On Friday, after a joint board meeting between KPA and Kenya Revenue Authority, chairman Benjamin Tayari said they will enter into a concession agreement with private companies to manage critical facilities within the ports of Mombasa and Lamu, but not privatise.
“What we are doing is something called concession. There's a very big difference between the privatisation and concession,” Tayari said
"Privatisation of the Mombasa Port will not happen when we are in government, I said that when I assumed office, port operations would be returned to Mombasa from Nairobi and we did that," he said.
"I want to assure you that we shall expand it to create job opportunities because it has the ability to serve South Sudan, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda."
On Monday, Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, his deputy Francis Thoya and Jomvu MP Badi Twalib took the Kenya Kwanza government head-on, saying they would not allow the port of Mombasa to be taken away.