UDA completes merger with ANC; Issa Timamy named new Deputy Party Leader

The President William Ruto-led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has finally completed its merger with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) party.

UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire made the announcement on Friday saying the merger would affect the internal structures and leadership of the party as well as the Kenya Kwanza coalition at large.

The Embu Governor, who attributed the move to creating an inclusive outfit that promotes unity and democracy, insisted that the merger would result in a direct change of the UDA faction’s name, logo, symbol and overall brand.

“Appreciating and reflecting on the shared and common ideals of the primacy of economic empowerment, peace and development, the UDA party and the Amani National Congress have today merged as one known as the United Democratic Alliance Party that is also going to change the name,” said Mbarire.

“The party has incorporated ANC’s identity symbols in the logo, imagery, topography, and brand of the new merged party and shall resultantly undertake a myriad of other changes in the governance and operations of the party.”

In the new party leadership structure, ANC Party Leader Issa Timamy who is the Lamu Governor, will assume the role of UDA Deputy Party Leader.

ANC Chairperson Kelvin Lunani will deputise Mbarire as Vice Chairman, while Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba will deputize UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar.

UDA further revealed that it will soon be onboarding ANC’s secretariat including directors and top-level leadership to help move the party forward.

Governor Mbarire also pointed out that a merger committee has since been formed to ensure all activities are completed within 90 days.

During her speech, Mbarire seemingly blamed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for the delayed merger citing his remarks on “shareholding” and “traps at State House.”

She at the same time compared Gachagua to his successor Prof. Kithure Kindiki, who she said had played a huge role in bringing the country together.

“We are happy as the UDA party because we are finally finished with this process which began in 2023 but stalled because we had challenges and bottlenecks and mitego kila mahali, but because of our new Deputy Party Leader because he opened up that process, took care of mitegos and made sure that we are here today,” said Mbarire.

“We are happy as UDA because we are no longer the party that locked out the rest of the nation, we are no longer the party of shareholding. You don’t need a certificate of shareholding to join this new formation; the new face is the face of a united Kenya where each person needs to be.”