Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa has claimed that former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko’s newly launched National Economic Developmental Party (NEDP) has been created to counter the influence of the Wiper Party in Ukambani.

Speaking during an interview on a local radio station on Thursday, December 18, 2025, the former Defence Cabinet Secretary said that Mike Sonko’s party, together with the Maendeleo Chap Chap Party led by Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, has been designed to divide the Ukambani region in order to put a brake on Kalonzo Musyoka, who is being viewed as a potential flag bearer for the United Opposition and has huge support from the eastern region.

“In Ukambani, the party that was recently launched by Mike Sonko, together with the Alfred Mutua party, wants to use it so as to divide the Ukambani region,” Wamalwa stated.

Similar plans in Western Kenya

He went on to state that the same strategy is being applied in every region where opposition-aligned parties enjoy significant support.

He cited his own DAP-K party, claiming that the President is also working to hamper its influence in the Western Kenya region by using proxies to register splinter parties.

As an example, he mentioned the Democratic National Party (DNA) led by Barrack Muluka, which fielded a candidate in the Malava by-election. The candidate had previously been in DAP-K but defected to DNA after Seth Panyako was awarded a direct nomination.

Eugene further cited Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale’s party, which he launched in July and dubbed the United Patriotic Movement (UPM). Who, after launching it, left it to be run by university students and announced that he would use it for his 2027 gubernatorial bid.

He also stated that Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wickliffe Oparanya also has plans to register a party as a broader part of Ruto’s strategy.

Wamalwa described this as another party being used to weaken his influence and that of DAP-K, which he said is dominant in the region, citing the Malava by-election outcome as a case study.

“In western Kenya, Boni Khalwale has already been given a party, and also Oparanya, and also the DNA party, which has its officials, such as Barack Muluka, being former members of Mudavadi’s ANC,” Eugene stated.

Message to Western Kenya

He urged the people of Western Kenya to remain vigilant, claiming that the President has a plan to divide the region after realising that it may not back him in the next general election. He added that the Malava by-election demonstrated that if the region rallies behind DAP-K in unity, there would be a high chance of defeating UDA in the 2027 polls.

This comes days after Mike Sonko received full registration of his party by the office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).