Natembeya’s party asks Registrar to revoke Kalonzo’s Ukombozi Alliance name

The Ukombozi People’s Party, associated with Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, claims it secured reservation of the name in March last year before writing to the Registrar of Political Parties to discontinue the party’s registration process.

The party has now written to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties demanding the immediate revocation of Kalonzo Musyoka’s Ukombozi Alliance and the resumption of its own registration process.

Hours after the rebranding of the Azimio la Umoja coalition as the Ukombozi Alliance, fresh divisions emerged within the opposition, pitting Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Patriotic Front against Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi camp.

The Ukombozi People’s Party has formally written to the Registrar of Political Parties seeking intervention over the registration of the party and reservation of the Ukombozi identity.

Party Secretary-General Allan Akivaga claims they were the first to reserve the Ukombozi name, accusing the Registrar of Political Parties of acting in bad faith by allowing the name to be adopted by the Azimio coalition.

"We came to learn that they told UDP they cannot rebrand because the name was reserved by Azimio Alliance, which was launched by Kalonzo Musyoka yesterday," Akivaga said.

The Ukombozi People’s Party had been widely viewed as a potential political vehicle for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as he races against time to unveil his platform for the 2027 presidential contest.

The latest development threatens to complicate those plans, with the claimants likening the situation to having their political vehicle snatched away at the eleventh hour.

"They want to frustrate us because they feel it is aligned to some other entity. The only way to find out is to check with the ORPP," Akivaga stated. 

The Registrar’s office, however, maintains that it has neither approved nor authorised the use of the name Ukombozi People’s Party.

The party’s claimants insist the name was formally reserved in March last year and that the reservation remained valid.

"The ORPP gave us the go-ahead to submit the registration, the submission of slogans and symbols and all other things. The name reservation was still very active," Akivaga noted. 

The dispute comes days after Embakasi East MP and Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Babu Owino, a prominent figure associated with the Linda Mwananchi camp, launched his own political outfit, the Mwananchi Party.

The unveiling of the Ukombozi Alliance also drew the surprise attendance of Siaya Governor James Orengo, another prominent figure associated with the Linda Mwananchi camp.

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, who was also present at the event, appeared to take a swipe at Sifuna over the developments.

"Niko na ujumbe kwa Sifuna. Wewe umeanza kuchezwa, ulikuwa unafikiri uko na marafiki. Ulikuwa unasema utazindua chama cha Ukombozi, imechukuliwa na Kalonzo. Ukasema unazindua chama cha Mwananchi, imeenda na Babu Owino," Barasa said.

Sifuna is expected to unveil his political vehicle for the 2027 presidential race on October 3.