A planned political deal that would have given Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna the United Democratic Party (UDP) platform for his 2027 presidential bid has been thrown into fresh uncertainty. UDP Acting Deputy Party Leader and Vice Chairman Mohammed Abikar said there was no agreement to hand the party leadership to either Sifuna or Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya. Abikar insisted that any changes must be approved through the party's established structures.
Abikar's statement came after Natembeya announced that Sifuna would contest the 2027 presidential election on the UDP ticket and would be unveiled as both party leader and presidential aspirant in early October. Abikar warned against attempts to alter the party's leadership without involving delegates, saying such a move would go against the UDP constitution. He emphasized that any transition to a new party leader must be deliberate, well-planned, and anchored on delegates' consensus.
According to Abikar, the position of UDP party leader became vacant after the death of its substantive leader, the late Cyrus Jirongo. He said the vacancy can only be filled through a National Delegates Conference. Abikar also rejected the idea that politicians seeking to join or return to UDP could secure positions through arrangements made outside the party. He said new members must come through the front door.
The party official said UDP's constitution already provides a procedure for dealing with vacant leadership positions caused by resignation or death. Abikar warned that any shortcut would end in political bloodshed and a serious legal battle. UDP has also involved its legal team in the matter, with Abikar saying lawyers had been directed to keep watch over developments surrounding the party's leadership.
Despite rejecting the reported takeover, Abikar said the party was willing to receive Sifuna, Natembeya, and other politicians who want to work with UDP. He said they would be welcomed through the right party process. Natembeya had on September 25 said Sifuna would carry the UDP ticket in the 2027 presidential election. The governor said Sifuna would be formally introduced as UDP party leader and presidential aspirant during an event expected to take place in the first week of October.
The announcement came as Sifuna's political team continued searching for a party to anchor his presidential ambitions after his departure from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Sifuna is expected to meet his close allies in a one-day closed-door retreat in Kiambu on Saturday, where his political team will discuss the way forward on his political vehicle. The meeting will also consider possible cooperation with other opposition parties.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka said efforts to secure a party for Sifuna had faced difficulties, with frustrations allegedly being placed in his way by the State. Onyonka said the group had settled on the need for Sifuna to have control of the party sponsoring his presidential bid before opposition groups could form a wider coalition. The UDP dispute adds another layer of uncertainty to Sifuna's efforts to settle on a political vehicle ahead of 2027.
Key points
- UDP Acting Deputy Party Leader Mohammed Abikar rejects claims of handing party leadership to Senator Edwin Sifuna and Governor George Natembeya.
- Abikar insists that any changes to the party leadership must be approved through the party's established structures.
- Sifuna's political team continues searching for a party to anchor his presidential ambitions after his departure from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
