Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko has launched his new party after the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) handed them full registration.

While speaking after the launch of his party, the National Economic Development Party (NEDP), on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, he said the party is set to give the country an alternative leadership since, according to him, the country has been held hostage by legacy parties that have existed for years without offering Kenyans meaningful solutions.

He further stated that it has not been an easy task to come up with the party, saying it has been a long journey which they began in 2019, lodging registration documents in 2020. He, however, thanked the ORPP for helping them realise their dream of having a party.

“Today, we are very glad the ORPP has issued us with full party registration of our party NEDP-K. We started this journey in 2019, and we logged the documents in 2020, and it has not been an easy journey,” he said.

He went ahead to name the party chairman, whom he identified as Dr Nyamu, who, according to him, was a gynaecologist during his tenure at Pumwani Hospital, alongside other people who are his close friends and former associates.

He stated that his party has the face of Kenya and encompasses all generations in its leadership. With him being the party leader, he said he is holding the position on an interim basis, the same as other leaders in their respective capacities within the party. He added that leaders will be fully settled on after a delegates’ meeting, which will appoint the party leadership, assuring the country that the process will be democratic.

“Dr Nyamu will be the interim chairman; I will be the interim party leader. We will follow a democratic process of electing party officials through the delegates and through the Wananchi,” he added.

Party chairman’s remarks

The party chairman, whom he had earlier identified as the former Pumwani Maternity Hospital director, stated that the party is concerned with the economy, with their slogan being ‘Uchumi na Mwananchi‘ – the people and the economy.

He further stated that, as the founding members of the party, they will soon begin announcing the party officials and NEC members.

Mike Sonko added that his party will focus on ensuring that leadership is taken to the grassroots level, where each Kenyan will stand to benefit from it.