The United Democratic Party (UDP) has set conditions for Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to take up a leadership position in the party, insisting that any changes must follow its constitution and established procedures.
In a statement on September 25, UDP Acting Deputy Party Leader and Vice Chairman Mohammed Abikar rejected reports that Sifuna and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya were taking over the party’s leadership, saying no such arrangement exists.
Abikar said UDP’s current officials were duly elected during the 2022 National Delegates Conference and that only a National Delegates Conference has the authority to fill the party leader position left vacant following the death of former party leader Cyrus Jirongo.
He said any transition to new leadership must be deliberate, properly planned and based on consensus among party delegates rather than informal agreements.
“As Acting Deputy Party Leader and Vice Chairman of UDP, I confirm that the party’s current officials were duly elected at the last National Delegates Conference in 2022. Only a National Delegates Conference has the authority to fill the party leader position left vacant by the passing of our substantive leader, Hon. Cyrus Jirongo.
Any transition to a new party leader must be deliberate, well-planned, and anchored on one conditional principle: delegates’ consensus — not backroom deals,” part of the statement read.
UDP Opposes Backdoor Plan to Change Party Leadership
Abikar further warned against attempts to introduce new leadership through a process he described as a “backdoor,” insisting that politicians seeking to join or return to UDP must follow the party’s established procedures.
UDP said it was open to Sifuna, Natembeya and other like-minded politicians joining the party, but maintained that their entry and any leadership changes must comply with the party constitution.
Abikar warned that bypassing the party’s rules could trigger internal conflict and legal disputes.
According to Abikar, the UDP constitution provides a roadmap for filling the party leader position and other vacancies arising from resignation or death.
The party has also instructed its lawyers to remain vigilant over the leadership issue.
“We welcome Natembeya, Sifuna, and all like-minded politicians with open arms — through the right party process. Hon. Cyrus Jirongo stood for uprightness, truth, and justice. No one will short-change loyal party members for quick political gains,” read part of the statement.
Nambeya on Sifuna Becoming Party Leader
On September 25, Natembeya said in an interview that Sifuna would be the United Democratic Party (UDP) presidential flagbearer in the 2027 General Election.
He said Sifuna was expected to be formally unveiled as both UDP party leader and presidential aspirant during an event planned for the first week of October.
According to Natembeya, the party’s National Executive Committee would conduct the unveiling at the UDP headquarters in Nairobi.
Natembeya said the event would precede the party’s National Delegates Conference, where delegates would consider and ratify the recommendations made by the National Executive Committee.
He also argued that different regions within the opposition had political parties associated with their respective areas, citing DCP in the Mt Kenya region and Wiper in Ukambani, and said Western Kenya also needed a regional political party.
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