Ukombozi name dispute deepens opposition divisions

The scramble for the Ukombozi name has further exposed divisions within Kenya’s opposition, with Azimio’s move to rebrand as the Ukombozi Alliance thwarting Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s bid to launch a fallback political vehicle, the Ukombozi People’s Party, ahead of the 2027 presidential race. The Ukombozi People’s Party, associated with Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, claims it secured reservation of the name in March last year before writing to the Registrar of Political Parties to discontinue the registration process. The move was intended to allow the United Democratic Party, UDP, to adopt elements of the UPP’s identity. The party has now written to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, demanding the immediate revocation of Kalonzo Musyoka’s Ukombozi Alliance and the continuation of its registration. Ben Kirui has more.