Ruling on parties' alliance sparks mixed reactions

President William Ruto with Prime Cabinet Secretary during a meeting at State House, Nairobi. [PCS]

Thursday's High Court ruling that nullified the merger between the Amani National Congress (ANC) and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has triggered sharp reactions across Western Kenya.

The ruling, which revisited the legality and process of the ANC–UDA merger, comes at a critical time of political realignments in the country, even as former ANC party officials insisted the decision has largely been overtaken by political events on the ground.

 ANC, the party long associated with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, had already ceased to exist as an independent political outfit, last year, after its leadership resolved to merge with President William Ruto’s UDA, moving its structures, assets and membership into the ruling party.

 Reacting to the court decision, Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, who previously served as ANC’s Secretary-General and now holds the position of Deputy Secretary-General of UDA, said the ruling did not change the political reality.

“The recent court ruling on the  ANC–UDA merger has been overtaken by events. ANC lawfully wound up its affairs, transferred its assets to UDA and fully integrated its members following due process and established legal procedures,” said Milemba.

But political analyst Moses Ombayo argues that the court ruling, though coming late, could still reshape Western Kenya’s political landscape by reigniting debate about regional political identity and representation. He described the situation as a double-edged sword for Mudavadi and his allies.

“This cuts both ways for Mudavadi, who was left politically naked after losing the party,” said Ombayo.

“There was a strong majority on the ground who were unhappy with folding ANC in Mudavadi’s backyard. I know many are now happy because this ruling might give them renewed support and a sense of direction.”

Milemba insists that the court ruling will have no bearing, since there exists no parallel structures, no competing claims and no legal or operational ambiguity whatsoever.

ANC had been synonymous with Mudavadi and enjoyed significant support in Western Kenya and select Coast counties.  He handed over the party’s leadership to Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, who had been named UDA’s Deputy Party Leader, after Mudavadi’s appointment to the Cabinet,

Kennedy Chavanji, a former ANC supporter from Chavakali in Sabatia Constituency, said the merger was a strategic mistake that weakened Western Kenya’s political bargaining power.

“The merger was ill-advised. Every region in Kenya needs an identity in terms of political parties and for their kingpins to survive. We have lost as a region, as we now have to beg other parties to allow us to use their tickets in future elections,” said Chavanji.

This sentiment is widely shared in parts of Vihiga, where many ANC loyalists feel politically orphaned following the dissolution of the party.

In the 2022 General Election, ANC produced seven MPs. The party emerged as a dominant force in Vihiga County, winning four out of the six parliamentary seats. The party also won the Lamu gubernatorial race, making Issa Timamy governor. Nationally, it had 33 MCAs.

Ombayo noted that many former ANC officials recently vied for grassroots leadership positions under UDA, an indication that the party’s original structures may no longer be intact.