The Amani National Congress (ANC) has officially ratified its merger with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a decision that outgoing party officials say is strategically aimed at positioning Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for the presidency in 2032.
During a National Delegates Conference (NDC) at the Bomas of Kenya, ANC’s Deputy Party Leader and Lamu Governor Issa Timamy assured party supporters that the decision to fold ANC into UDA should not be seen as a political surrender but rather as a tactical alignment for future leadership. Timamy emphasized that their focus remains on the long-term political trajectory leading to the 2032 presidential election.
“Let me say this: we are taking this direction because our eyes are on 2032,” Timamy stated, underscoring that the merger aligns with succession politics. He elaborated that ANC’s agreement with UDA is designed to secure President Ruto’s re-election in 2027, after which UDA will reciprocate by supporting Mudavadi’s presidential bid in 2032.
Outgoing ANC Secretary-General and Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba echoed Timamy’s sentiments, noting that the political landscape leading to 2032 is fraught with challenges. He insisted that merging with UDA would smooth the path for Mudavadi, a politician known for his calm demeanor and strategic positioning.
“Our eyes are on 2032. The decision we have taken is because the road is bumpy. Do not be worried when you go there because we are eying 2032,” Milemba told ANC delegates.
Meanwhile, outgoing party chair Kelvin Lunani urged ANC supporters to actively campaign for President Ruto’s re-election in 2027, stressing that a unified approach would consolidate political strength.
“When we join hands, we become stronger. This merger will form government in 2027 and beyond,” Lunani said, reinforcing the importance of unity between ANC and UDA in achieving their shared goals.
As part of the merger, ANC’s assets and liabilities will now be transferred to UDA, marking the end of ANC as an independent political entity. The move signifies a deepening of ties between Mudavadi and Ruto, with the former now positioning himself as a key player in the country’s succession politics.
With the 2027 elections as the immediate focus, ANC’s integration into UDA is expected to shape Kenya’s political dynamics significantly. Whether UDA will honor its commitment to back Mudavadi in 2032 remains to be seen, but for now, ANC leaders are confident that the decision will pay off in the long run.
