The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has formally merged with the Amani National Congress (ANC) to form the United Democratic Party.
UDA is President William Ruto’s party, while the ANC was initially led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
The merger announcement was made by UDA national chairperson Cecily Mbarire on Friday, January 17, 2025, at State House Nairobi.
President Ruto and Mudavadi were also present.
“We are extremely happy as UDA that finally, we have come to the end of the process. The process stalled because we had bottlenecks and challenges everywhere,” Mbarire said.
Talks of UDA merging with ANC were first reported as early as 2023. However, a section of ANC officials vowed not to agree to the folding of the party with a huge following in Western Kenya.
With the two parties merging, Mbarire announced several changes to the leadership of the new outfit – United Democratic Party.
Who are the new leaders of United Democratic Party?
ANC party leader Issa Timamy now becomes the deputy party leader of the United Democratic Party while Kelvin Lunani, who was ANC’s chairman will be United Democratic Party’s vice chair.
In addition, Omboko Milemba, who was ANC’s secretary general, will be the new party’s deputy secretary general.
Aside from the new leadership, the United Democratic Party will also be rebranding to incorporate UDA and ANC colours.
“The party has incorporated ANC’s identity symbols in the logo, imagery, and topography and shall resultantly undertake myriad changes in the governance and structure of the party,” said the Embu Governor.
Secretariats for the two parties will also be merged into one.
The latest development comes even as the Kenya Kwanza administration aligns itself ahead of the 2027 General Election following the ouster of Rigathi Gachagua as the Deputy President.
