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The United Democratic Alliance Party (UDA) has clarified the role of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki in the new political formation after it merged with Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC).

In a statement on Friday, January 17, 2025, UDA indicated that contrary to reports of a single deputy party leader, the new outfit will see the party have the first deputy party leader as Kindiki and the second one will be Lamu Governor Issa Timamy.

UDA also revealed that President William Ruto would remain the party leader deputized by Kindiki and Timamy while the national vice-chairperson would be Cecily Mbarire deputized by Kelvin Lunani.

The party’s secretary-general Hassan Omar also stated that he will be deputized by Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba while Mwala MP Vincent Kawaya will remain the National Organizing Secretary and Japheth Nyakundi the National Treasurer.

Merger

“The UDA Party wishes to express its concern over the unprecedented rise in fake news including those from some mainstream media houses in a deliberate and well-orchestrated scheme of misinformation intended to detract well-meaning citizens of our nation in the various sectors and formations of government and society,” Omar said.

Adding: “In the circumstances, we ask the Kenyan people to decipher truth from falsity as the Government continues to implement our robust development plan, the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).”

During the official launch of the merger of the two political parties at the State House, UDA national chairperson and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire had noted that several ANC party secretariat would be incorporated into the new UDA.

Equally, Mbarire said that the party symbols, typography and colours would largely borrow from ANC after the merger.

“The UDA party and the Amani National Congress have today merged as one known as the UDA party; that is also going to change the name and the branding,” Mbarire said.

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

1^st Deputy party leader

On November 11, 2024, the UDA party made Kindiki its Deputy party leader following the impeachment of former Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.

The UDA NEC noted that following Gachagua’s impeachment, the party’s constitution requires that he relinquish his role as the party’s deputy leader.

“That by virtue of the resolution of the National Assembly and the vote of the Senate and by operation of Articles 75 (3) and145 (7) of the Constitution of Kenya as read together with Article 8.2.19 of the UDA Party Constitution, Rigathi Gachagua is unable to perform the duties of the office of Deputy Party Leader and subsequently ceases to hold office as Deputy Party leader,” the NEC resolution read in part.