NAIROBI, Kenya — Ford Kenya has rejected calls to dissolve and merge with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), warning that such demands threaten Kenya’s multiparty democracy and undermine constitutional political freedoms ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
In a statement issued Monday, March 23, Ford Kenya Secretary General John Chikati accused some UDA leaders of pushing for the collapse of affiliate parties within the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
He described the demands as “outrageous” and contrary to democratic principles.
“The FORD Kenya Party has noted with deep concern the consistent and sustained threats issued by senior leaders within UDA. These utterances, demanding that affiliate parties within the Kenya Kwanza administration should fold up and join UDA ahead of the 2027 General Elections, are not only outrageous but a direct affront to the democratic fabric of our nation,” read part of the statement.
Chikati added that the party would not accept dissolution under political pressure. “FORD Kenya cannot and will not be dissolved. It can only be enhanced and protected for future generations,” he said.
The party argued that affiliate political formations were instrumental in securing the coalition’s 2022 electoral victory.
It warned that forcing smaller parties into a single dominant outfit would reverse gains achieved under the multiparty system introduced in the early 1990s.
Chikati further maintained that any attempt to alter Kenya’s political framework must follow constitutional procedures. He said such a move would require a broad national consensus, including a possible referendum.
At the same time, Ford Kenya questioned what it termed contradictions within the ruling coalition. The party noted that some leaders advocating dissolution were also pursuing cooperation with opposition formations, creating uncertainty over the coalition’s political direction.
While reaffirming its commitment to the Kenya Kwanza administration, Ford Kenya urged leaders to focus on governance and the delivery of campaign promises instead of early political realignments.
“Governance should be based on merit and pre-election agreements, not political blackmail,” Chikati said, adding that the party would defend its identity and constitutional rights.
The statement followed pressure from some UDA leaders, including Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who warned that affiliated parties risked exclusion from government appointments if they failed to dissolve and join UDA.
The dispute comes amid broader debate over party mergers within the ruling coalition. A recent attempt to merge UDA with Amani National Congress (ANC) linked to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi was halted by the court.
The court ruled that ANC should retain its identity as a political party and ordered the reopening of its offices.
It also directed the Registrar of Political Parties to reinstate the party’s status through a gazette notice.
According to the ruling, the proposed merger did not meet the constitutional and legal threshold required for dissolving and merging political parties.
