Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei is demanding that political parties within the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance dissolve and merge with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) before the 2027 general election. He warned that those who refuse to join the “mother party” risk losing access to influential government and parliamentary roles.
Cherargei argued that smaller affiliate parties must fold into UDA to bolster President William Ruto’s re-election campaign. With the next polls just 18 months away, he believes consolidating the alliance into a single powerhouse is the only way to secure a decisive victory.
“Those who are in a coalition with UDA, we want to ask them to dissolve those small parties so that we get into a bigger ship called UDA. We cannot be having a big ship and you’re just having a boat,” he told attendees at a public event in Nandi County.
Since its launch in January 2022, the Kenya Kwanza Alliance has relied on its “hustler” narrative and the Bottom-Up Economic Agenda to win over voters. This strategy propelled the coalition to victory in the last general election, granting them majority control over both the National Assembly and the Senate.
The ruling coalition currently functions as an umbrella for over a dozen parties. Key members include Ruto’s UDA, Moses Wetang’ula’s FORD–Kenya, and the Amani National Congress (ANC), which is linked to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
On February 7, 2025, the Amani National Congress (ANC) officially dissolved and merged with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). This strategic move saw ANC transfer its assets to the ruling party and integrate its members into the UDA’s larger political structure.
However, the dissolution sparked a major legal battle. In January 2026, the High Court of Kenya declared the merger unlawful and unconstitutional. The court found that the process violated the ANC’s own constitution and failed to involve its members adequately.
Despite this judicial setback, UDA leaders have brushed off the ruling. They argue that the dissolution was a voluntary act by ANC members that had already been completed, dismissing the court’s decision as “overtaken by events.”
Senator Samson Cherargei has used this situation to pressure other coalition members. He believes all affiliate parties must follow the same path to ensure the ruling alliance remains united for the high-stakes 2027 election, where President Ruto is expected to face a consolidated opposition.
“Those that won’t dissolve their parties, when UDA and President Ruto return in 2027, they will not get Cabinet seats or even the speaker,” Cherargei warned.
Samson Cherargei’s comments echo the consistent stance of President William Ruto. As the UDA party leader, Ruto has frequently called for consolidating smaller parties into a single political entity to reduce internal friction and boost the coalition’s chances at the ballot box.
Cherargei also praised the growing cooperation between UDA and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). He characterized this partnership as a clever move to establish a broad-based government and ensure Ruto clinches a second term.
At the same time, the vocal senator brushed aside concerns that a united opposition could jeopardize the president’s re-election campaign.
