United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party secretary general Cleophas Malala says plans to fold Kenya Kwanza parties are still ongoing.

Malala says the ruling UDA party is making headways in convincing Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to fold their parties and bring their troops to UDA.

“Our government is keen to ensure that we bring everybody on board. As a party (UDA) we have been mandated to talk to other like-minded parties within Kenya Kwanza and even outside. The process is ongoing and we are talking to our brothers from the Amani National Congress, Ford Kenya and other affiliate parties,” Malala said.

“The talks have hit a high note. In the coming days, you will realize that we have made headways in terms of negotiating with our sister parties within the Kenya Kwanza alliance so that we form a big political movement.”

Ruto’s plea to ANC, Ford Kenya

In March, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula rejected an overture by  President William Ruto to fold their political parties and join UDA after an invite to the State House.

The President had summoned Mudavadi and Wetangula with their ANC and Ford Kenya allies to State House on March 2 hoping to convince them to fold up their entities ahead of this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations to be held in Bungoma.

ANC Secretary General Beatrice Adagala confirmed that they had turned down overtures by the president for them to fold up their parties.

“Yes it is true there was something like that, but this is not the time for dissolving political parties but to work for the electorate,” she said.

The President is reported to have said that a declaration by the two on Madaraka Day that they have dissolved their political outfits to join UDA would give him some political mileage.

“It is my wish to have a strong political party with a national outlook that is headed by one party leader, one secretary general and chairman representing the face of the country,” the President reportedly told the parties at State House in March.