CS Kuria’s Chama Cha Kazi, 5 other parties fold to join Ruto’s UDA
By Wycliffe Nyamasege, March 14, 2023
President William Ruto received a major boost on Tuesday after six Kenya Kwanza Alliance affiliate parties folded up to join the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
In a statement, UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala welcomed the parties to UDA, saying the party is committed to rewriting the “tradition of political parties being episodic”.
The parties joining UDA include Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) founded by Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, Isaac Ruto’s Chama Cha Mashinani, currently headed by Mohamed Guleid, and the Farmers Party of Irungu Nyakera.
Other party leaders who have dissolved their parties to join UDA are former Embu Governor Martin Wambora of Umoja na Maendeleo party, Alfayo Agufana (National Agenda Party of Kenya) and Issack Hassan Abey (Economic Freedom Party).
“From today, the parties present here are no longer partners but part of the UDA family,” Malala said.
Malala said the party leaders will participate in all UDA activities including the ongoing membership registration drive, and the upcoming party grassroots elections slated for August.
“It is said that home is a feeling, not a place. And today, our fellow brothers have decided that they cannot build our nation from the periphery but right from home,” Malala said.
“For their selfless decision to shelve their ambition of individually hacking their way, joining hands with the ruling party. My brothers, you will not regret this bold decision.
“I, therefore, encourage them to advise their members to take up active role in building our great party.”
Malala had earlier asked politicians holding senior government positions in the Kenya Kwanza government to dissolve their parties and join the President’s party.
Speaking in Ahero, Kisumu county, during a UDA party membership recruitment exercise early this month, Malala said Kenya Kwanza leaders who are still clinging to their parties to choose between being in government or holding on to their political outfits.
“You have no business being a Cabinet Secretary if you are still holding onto your party,” Malala said.
Some of the co-principals in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance who are yet to quit their party leadership positions include Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua of Maendele Chap Chap and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya), who came to power following Ruto’s victory.