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Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) party’s David Ochieng has said his party will not accept a proposal by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malala to have parties in the Kenya Kwanza alliance to fold and join President William Ruto’s outfit.

Ochieng, who is currently the Member of Parliament for Ugenya Constituency, termed Malala’s proposal as wishful thinking.

“What UDA is doing is actually a wish. Everyone wishes to have a big party. I believe that what Mr. Malala is talking about would be their dream to have the party grow and have everyone there,” he said when he appeared on a local television station on Monday, March 6, 2023.

The MP, however, said the Kenya Kwanza party leaders have not had any discussions about folding their parties to form one large outfit for 2027.

“We have not had discussions about anyone folding their party. The parties that belong to Kenya Kwanza are run through well-established structures and operations but party leaders won’t fold to join UDA,” he said.

UDA leadership

Malala has vowed to make UDA the largest party in Kenya since independence.

“As the Secretary-General, the bar has been set high and the responsibility before me is not light and I am up to the task.

“With the support of the secretariat and all party organs, I will fully adopt and embrace the vision of our party leader which is to make UDA the greatest party of all time and an institution that will outlive its leadership,” he stated last week.

Cleophas Malala was last week appointed Secretary General of the UDA party in an acting capacity.

In leadership changes announced after the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Monday, February 27, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichungw’ah also named Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire as the new chairperson of the ruling party.

Malala, who has since resigned as a member of the Amani National Congress (ANC) party, took over from nominated Senator Veronica Maina while Governor Mbarire replaced Johnson Muthama, who has since joined Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) as a member.

In the new changes, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Omar Hassan replaced Kipruto Arap Kirwa as Vice Chairman while Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi replaced Omingo Magara as National Treasurer.