Raila meets DNA party leader Godfrey Kanoti

By , April 23, 2025

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, held a meeting with Democratic National Alliance (DNA) party leader Godfrey Kanoti.

Raila, in a statement issued via his official X account, said that Kanoti had visited him for a tête-à-tête on national issues.

According to the former prime minister, Kanoti, who heads the party that was just formed recently, had also passed by for political party governance lessons.

Raila further pledged to remain committed to pluralism of views and multi-party politics generally.

“The DNA Party of Kenya leader, Godfrey Kanoti, came by for a tête-à-tête on national issues and political party governance lessons. We remain committed to pluralism of views and multi-party politics generally,” Raila stated.

Speculations over DNA ownership

The meeting comes amid growing speculations over the real owner of the DNA party, which was formed after Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi merged his Amani National Congress (ANC) with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

A section of political leaders has linked the party to Mudavadi, with some arguing that it has been formed to neutralise the Eugene Wamalwa-led Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), which has been gaining popularity in Western Kenya.

This is because most of the officials of the DNA party, including Kanoti, are allies of Mudavadi.

DAP-K party youth chairman Ken Babu early this month claimed that the DNA party might have been formed to act as Mudavadi’s alternative negotiation vehicle after his ANC party was swallowed by UDA.

Speaking in an interview with a local TV station on April 4, 2025, Babu claimed that DNA is Mudavadi’s exit plan since most of its officials are the former vice president’s allies.

“Most of the officials in the DNA Party are Musalia Mudavadi’s allies. This party is Mudavadi’s exit plan after his ANC Party was swallowed by the UDA Party,” Babu said.

UDA-ANC merger

The ruling UDA party officially merged with Mudavadi’s ANC on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Speaking during the official ceremony at the State House, UDA National Chairperson Cecily Mbarire said the new party would see changes in its logo and symbols.

“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.”

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