Ruto wants Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties to fold, join UDA
President William Ruto has renewed his quest to have all Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties fold and join the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Speaking in Nyeri, Ruto said the move would create a national party that would carry the interests of all Kenyans irrespective of tribe, hence uniting the country.
"We are going to make sure that we build a national party that is going to unite the country, communities, and interests from every corner so that we can eliminate the politics of ethnicity in Kenya and change it to the politics of parties around issues that will drive the country into prosperity into the future," Ruto said.
Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties, apart from UDA, include Amani National Congress (ANC), Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD–Kenya), Economic Freedom Party (EFP) and The Service Party (TSP) among others.
Malala calls parties to join UDA
The call by Ruto comes almost a week after UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala urged the leadership of ANC and Ford Kenya to dissolve the political outfits and join UDA for the benefit of the Luhya community.
“This time round we must prioritise our community. We must be strategic. And the only way Luhyas will get to the top is by joining a national party. I want to urge the Luhya community to join the ruling national party which is UDA,” Malala stated on Sunday, September 4, 2023.
ANC party dismissed Malala's comments, saying the outfit would continue to exist as an independent party.
In a statement in March, ANC party leader Issa Timamy termed the matter as a non-issue and called on the ruling party to concentrate on other pressing issues including the high cost of living and insecurity.
"We want to make it clear that Amani party is not going to fold. We are an independent party, we are part of the Kenya Kwanza coalition and most importantly as members of that coalition there was an agreement that was signed between the various parties which formed the Kenya Kwanza coalition and Amani party is a major stakeholder in the Kenya Kwanza coalition," Timamy stated.
