A high-stakes scramble is underway within Kenya's opposition circles as Nairobi Senator Johnson Sifuna and his allies seek to secure a political vehicle ahead of the 2027 elections. Sifuna's team is working behind the scenes to have Azimio chiefs drop the 'Ukombozi' tag, with the aim of using it for their own party. However, the Registrar of Political Parties has rejected plans to rename the United Democratic Party (UDP) to Ukombozi People's Party (UPP), citing a similar name already reserved by the Ukombozi Alliance Coalition.
The Ukombozi Alliance Coalition was previously known as Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, which was rebranded on September 21, 2026. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka announced the name change, putting Sifuna and his allies in a delicate position. They are now seeking consent from Kalonzo's team to use the 'Ukombozi' name, but sources indicate that this may be a challenging task. The Linda Mwananchi team, including Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, has been holding talks to secure the Ukombozi name.
The scramble for the 'Ukombozi' identity has been complicated by competing party reservations. The Ukombozi People's Party name had previously been reserved for Allan Jayuga Akivaga on March 13, 2025, but the process was not completed within the required 90 days, and the reservation lapsed. Akivaga has now protested the subsequent reservations, accusing the registrar of allowing another applicant to secure Ukombozi-related names while his party was pursuing registration.
Sifuna and his allies have announced that they will launch their party on October 1, and the team has made it clear that he will be on the ballot. However, with the Registrar's rejection of UDP's proposed name change and the competing claims over the 'Ukombozi' identity, the team's options are narrowing. Section 8 of the Political Parties Act, 2011 prohibits multiple political parties from using the same or a confusingly similar name.
DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa has weighed in on the issue, stating that the Azimio side had moved to reserve the name before the UDP rebranding plan. Wamalwa claimed that they made the request to reserve The Ukombozi Alliance way before the plan to rebrand Jirongo's party to Ukombozi People's Party. On August 10, a formal objection was filed against UDP's proposed change of name.
The Registrar of Political Parties, John Cox Lorionokou, has confirmed that the office had not approved or authorised UDP to use Ukombozi People's Party. In a letter dated September 8, 2026, Lorionokou cited the Ukombozi Alliance Coalition, which had reserved the name on July 26, 2026. The rejection has triggered a fierce reaction from the Sifuna-Natembeya camp, even as a separate claim over the 'Ukombozi' identity threatens to further complicate the matter.
As the contest for control of the Ukombozi identity deepens, Sifuna's pursuit of the name has been complicated by Kalonzo's rebranding of Azimio, competing party reservations, and the Registrar's rejection of UDP's proposed name change. With his launch date approaching, the emerging contest highlights the strategic importance of party identities and the narrowing options facing Sifuna's camp. Key players are now waiting to see how the situation will unfold.
Key points
- Sifuna's team seeks consent from Kalonzo's team to use the 'Ukombozi' name for their new party.
- The Registrar of Political Parties has rejected plans to rename UDP to Ukombozi People's Party due to a similar name already reserved by Ukombozi Alliance Coalition.
- Competing party reservations and claims over the 'Ukombozi' identity have complicated Sifuna's pursuit of the name.
