Questions are now lingering on the lips of political pundits after Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s close allies rebranded the Umoja Summit Party (USP) to the Democratic National Alliance party (DNA).

The move comes barely five months after Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) folded and joined President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

It also comes at a time when former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which generally enjoys overwhelming support in western Kenya, has joined President Ruto’s broad-based government that seems to be losing ground in the region.

Sources told PD Wikendi that the launch of the new political party is meant to fill the void left by ANC in the larger Western Kenya region.

Though the PCS has come out to dissociate himself from the new outfit, questions have not ceased over whether DNA could be his Plan B should his move to join UDA backfire.

Godfrey Kanoti, who previously served as head of the directorate of projects and programmes under the Government Delivery Service in the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary is the brain behind the new political outfit.

Following the successful launch of the political party at Diamond Plaza in Parklands during USP’s National Governing Convention meeting, Kanoti who is the party leader, said the new outfit will accommodate Kenyans from all walks of life.

“We expect so many people to declare interest in various seats. From the presidency, all the way to the MCAs. We don’t allow speculation, so many people are willing to come and work with us,” said Kanoti.

Kanoti has maintained that the party will not allow itself to play second fiddle in the 2027 General Election.

“Members of the Luhya community have always voted against the government. They are still looking for that leader. So, as a party, we are going to give a presidential candidate. Any coalition that doesn’t give us number one or number two, we are not boarding,” he said.

Kanoti regretted that members of the community do not have a say in Ruto’s government.

“We are not in Ruto’s government because we didn’t even get the number three slot. All things that Musalia was promised were taken away. Musalia was in the presidency, but they later took away his position where he was placed below the Head of Public Service,” he added, claiming that State corporations that were under Mudavadi’s office were also taken away.

“Government Delivery Services, where I was a director under Mudavadi’s office was also taken away under Executive Order Number Two. Mudavadi has been left with this shell called Foreign Affairs,” said Kanoti.

The officials of the new party include Barrack Muluka (secretary general), Matano Chengo (deputy party leader), Benjamin Kebaso (deputy party leader), Evans Kasena (secretary of PWD affairs), Beatrice Nakiyiai Kipish (secretary of special interests), and Grayson Katsoleh (secretary of parliamentary affairs).

Others are Naomi Cidi (deputy secretary general), Maasai Mwawira (secretary of parliamentary affairs), James Mwaura (national organising secretary), and Jerusa Nyaboke.

Rallying numbers

Kakamega deputy governor Ayub Savula who appeared to warm up to the new party said in politics one must have options A and B.
“You must have two options in politics. Such that, in case you face a challenge, then you must be ready to join another political party.

I, for instance, my plan A during the last elections was ANC, but when I noticed that it was joining Ruto’s party, I knew I was going to lose the elections. So, my plan B was joining DAP K under Azimio,” explained Savula, before adding, “So, now I have plan A which is DAP K, and my plan B might be DNA; you never know.”

Savula claimed that ODM party leader Raila Odinga has plan A and plan B.

“His plan A is staying in Ruto’s government and benefitting from it. His plan B is exiting the broad-based government in December 2026 and contesting for the presidency,” added Savula.

The former Lugari MP said there was a need to ensure that members of the Luhya community register in large numbers ahead of the 2027 polls.

Barrack Muluka said the DNA party has opened its doors to Kenyan youth interested in elective positions ahead of the 2027 polls. He said the party had shifted its focus to emboldening young people in the country and focusing on the needs of the electorate.

The party had fielded Walter Mong’are aka Nyambane in the 2022 elections for the presidency, but he did not make it to the ballot for failing to meet the academic threshold.

“Political parties find it very difficult to hold NDCs because of the challenges that the NDCs come with. The most critical being that most of the time the election of party officials is done, and so you end up having officials on an interim basis,” said Muluka.

Naomi Cidi founder of the USP and now the deputy secretary general, underscored the importance of rebranding to DNA.

“As DNA, we want to change the DNA of the politics of this country and give the youths a voice and a platform to engage in the governance of this great nation. I call upon all Kenyans to join us in forging ahead as we shape our nation,” she said.

Kanoti declared that DNA was stepping forth to put an end to transactional politics, where leaders have been suppressing the voices of the masses for material gain.

Isabellah Amunga, a political and governance analyst from Kakamega County who attended the launch of the DNA Party termed the move a new political dawn in Kenya.

New wave

“Kakamega needs DNA more than ever. Our region continues to lag behind due to poor leadership. It’s time to awaken, to reorganise and to reimagine a county where people’s voices are power and progress is non-negotiable,” she said.

Former vice president Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka who spoke during the unveiling of the new party, welcomed the move, terming DNA as the people’s loyal opposition.

While commending Kanoti for the initiative to join in seeking accountability and proper governance, Kalonzo urged DNA to remain true to the call and not falter in the quest for accountability.

“We in opposition have remained loyal to the calling, and we shall remain so until we replicate the 2002 wave that swept KANU out of power. Raila is my brother, but since he chose to join the government, we collapsed Azimio. That entity is now as dead as a dodo thanks to ODM, however, with DNA coming on-board, we shall keep pushing until Kenya changes,” said Musyoka.

Others who attended the event included Jubilee national secretary general Jeremiah Kioni and former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia among others.