Africa-Press – Kenya. The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has dismissed a High Court ruling that declared an alleged merger between it and the former Amani National Congress (ANC) unlawful, maintaining that no such merger ever took place.
UDA says the ANC ceased to exist following a voluntary dissolution more than a year ago, arguing that the court’s decision was based on an incorrect assumption that the two parties merged.
In a statement issued on January 23, UDA’s second deputy party leader and Lamu Governor Issa Timamy said the ruling had been overtaken by events.
“I would like to state categorically that the court ruling on the purported ANC–UDA merger is a matter that events have overtaken,” Timamy said.
He cited a Gazette Notice issued on March 14, 2025, by the then Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu, which, according to UDA, formally communicated the dissolution of ANC following a resolution by its members.
“For the record, on 14th March 2025, vide Gazette Notice No. 3449, the then Registrar of Political Parties notified the public that the ANC, at its Special National Delegates Congress held on 7th February 2025, dissolved in line with its party constitution,” Timamy said.
According to UDA, the decision by ANC delegates constituted a voluntary dissolution under the Political Parties Act, rather than a merger with another political party.
On that basis, the party argues that any court finding purporting to nullify a merger is legally untenable.
“Clearly, what was done was a voluntary dissolution by the ANC party through its members, and therefore, the matter of the ANC having ‘merged’ with UDA is, with respect, not factual,” Timamy said, adding that, in the party’s view, there was never a merger between the two political parties.
Timamy further questioned the basis of the court’s declaration, stating that it addressed an event UDA maintains did not occur.
“To state that the ‘merger’ has been declared unlawful by the court is to address a situation that, according to our records, never existed,” he said.
UDA also stated that following the dissolution of ANC, its assets were transferred to UDA and former ANC members were integrated into the ruling party in accordance with applicable legal procedures.
“After the dissolution, all ANC assets were transferred to the UDA, and the dissolved ANC’s members were integrated into the UDA following due process,” Timamy said, adding that the party considers there to be no legal or operational ambiguity arising from the process.
The party said it would remain focused on internal cohesion and its broader political agenda, including mobilising members ahead of the next general election.
“As members of the UDA, our priority is to protect the integrity of the party, consolidate unity and mobilise our members as we work towards the re-election of President William Samoei Ruto,” the statement said, adding that the party’s attention remained on advancing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
