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United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala has renewed calls for small parties in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance to fold up and merge into the ruling party.

Speaking in Kakamega County, Malala urged the leadership of Amani National Congress (ANC) and Ford Kenya to dissolve the political outfits and join UDA for the benefit of the Luhya community.

He argued that the dissolution of the parties was the only route for the community to clinch the presidency in future elections.

“This time round we must prioritise our community. We must be strategic. And the only way Luhyas will get to the top is by joining a national party. I want to urge the Luhya community to join the ruling national party which is UDA,” Malala stated on Sunday.

The UDA secretary general made the remarks when he received former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati to the UDA, following his defection from the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).

Malala had early this year told politicians holding senior government positions in the Kenya Kwanza government to dissolve their parties and join President William Ruto’s party.

ANC party dismissed Malala’s comments, saying the outfit would continue to exist as an independent party.

In a statement in March, ANC party leader Issa Timamy termed the matter as a non-issue and called on the ruling party to concentrate on other pressing issues including the high cost of living and insecurity.

The party was previously headed by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who relinquished the role to take up a Cabinet position in Ruto’s government after the coalition’s victory in the August polls.

“We want to make it clear that Amani party is not going to fold. We are an independent party, we are part of the Kenya Kwanza coalition and most importantly as members of that coalition there was an agreement that was signed between the various parties which formed the Kenya Kwanza coalition and Amani party is a major stakeholder in the Kenya Kwanza coalition,” Timamy stated.

The Lamu governor added: “For the purpose of clarity, we support the Kenya Kwanza government. We also support President William Ruto but the issue of folding parties as a party we do not think that that is important at this stage. Kenya is facing very pressing issues including issues of security and the economy. We need to address these issues instead of concentrating on party issues.”

Malala had during a UDA recruitment drive in Ahero, Kisumu, asked Kenya Kwanza leaders still clinging to their parties to choose between being in government or holding on to their political outfits.

“You have no business being a Cabinet Secretary if you are still holding onto your party,” Malala said.

Some of the co-principals in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance who are yet to quit their party leadership positions include Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua (Maendele Chap Chap) and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya), who came to power following Ruto’s poll victory.