Fragmented opposition punctures Kalonzo's Ukombozi Alliance takeoff

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka announces the rebranding of Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition to Ukombozi Coalition at the SKM Command Centre in Karen, Nairobi, on September 22, 2026. [Dennis Kavisu, Standard]

The rebranding of the Azimio-One Kenya Coalition Party as The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA) has suffered another setback, with leaders expressing divergent views on the move.

After the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Council Meeting held on Monday that brought forth the new alliance, the Democracy for the Citizens party (DCP) has already indicated that it would not join the outfit.

DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala on Tuesday said they would wait for the parties in the new alliance to coalesce before they come and sit with them.

"As DCP, we have seen Azimio change their name to Ukombozi party. We wish them well because they are our partners but we have said that after the Ukombozi coalition unites, they will come and sit with us so that we agree on how to proceed," said Malala.

Malala also claimed that the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) John Cox Lorionokou was being used to cause divisions within the opposition by handing the Ukombozi name to Azimio, thus denying Sifuna the same.

"We want to tell our brothers from Azimio that we should not be a recipe for division within the United opposition," Malala said.

Kalonzo, who spoke to The Standard, confirmed that there are plans for Rigathi Gachagua to become the chairman of the alliance, replacing Uhuru.

They are awaiting his acceptance or rejection of the proposal.

DCP had no senior party figures present at the Monday meeting with only former MP Maoka Maore, who has been associated with the party in attendance.

The National Liberal Party (NLP), which is among the founder parties of the coalition, has already written to the RPP demanding transparency on the rebrand.

In a post on his Facebook page NLP party leader Augustus Muli on Tuesday dismissed the rebranding of the coalition, citing lack of clarity and transparency in the process.

"As the National Liberal Party (NLP), we have formally written to the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leadership and the Registrar of Political Parties seeking clarity and official documentation regarding the purported “Ukombozi Alliance” rebranding. We therefore seek to establish the facts, understand the legal and organizational basis of the purported rebranding, and ensure that all relevant procedures are followed in accordance with the law.”

In his presser on Monday unveiling the rebranding, Kalonzo reiterated that the other united opposition leaders not present at the event were still with them.

"If you look at this team, it's one team even those who are not here are together with us. I want to assure Kenyans that the position is one; one term, one team, one coalition," he said.

However, the Wiper leader also acknowledged that while there were other matters in court that were pending determination like the ruling on the Linda Mwananchi name expected to be made on 30th September, time was moving.

"We know whatever is happening in the registrar of political parties, Linda Mwananchi is waiting for a ruling but there's no time. Time is strictly of the essence and we are trying to save time so that the mindset of our people is aligned." Kalonzo said.

The controversy also appears not to be within the United Alternative Government parties alone.

Speaking in Kisumu on Friday, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, said that there would be another coalition within the Linda Mwananchi faction.

"We will push Sifuna to go forward as our presidential candidate as Linda Mwananchi. Once he is there, we will form a coalition within Linda Mwananchi because in the long run, we will have to form another bigger coalition with the alternative opposition," said Babu casting doubt about whether they would join the Ukombozi Alliance.

Babu said that they would then look for other partners like Kalonzo, Rigathi, Matiang'i for a sit down with them.

This could potentially mean that there could already be two coalitions lining up to potentially form another mega coalition.

Present at the Ukombozi Alliance unveiling was Siaya Governor James Orengo who is a key member of the Linda Mwananchi team and Caroli Omondi who is the Azimio Secretary General and the Linda Mwananchi spokesperson.

From Jubilee Party, David Murathe and Moitalel Ole Kenta were present at the council meeting.

After the leadership change in Jubilee, the party's director of elections Kembi Gitura said that they had no issue with the rebranding of Azimio.

"Whether it is going to be called Ukombozi or it is going to be called Azimio, or whatever it is going to be called, we are part of the united opposition." Gitura said.

The absence of the People Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua's at Monday's press conference also raised questions with no representatives from his party present.

Martha's PLP, which rebranded from NARC-Kenya, was in the Azimio coalition before going separate ways after Orange Democratic Movement leaders joined the Broad based Government.

Speaking in March, Karua rejected Kalonzo's proposal to rebrand the alliance, ruling out the possibility of her party rejoining Azimio, by likening it to a ship that had already sunk.

Kalonzo maintained that Karua would eventually join the Ukombozi Alliance team.

"For my twin Martha, we told her ajaribu but at the end our goal is that we will all be together so there's no issue." he said.

Also absent was National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) party leader Charity Ngilu who is in the Azimio council.

Ngilu had vowed to join the efforts to bolster the opposition during the memorial of the late Michael Kijana Wamalwa, late last month in Kitale.

Ngilu was present at the Joint Azimio Council and National Executive Committee meeting on August 3, which resolved to rebrand the coalition, admitted Matiang'i, Munya and Kivuti into the council, and extended invitations to Eugene Wamalwa's DAP-K, Omingo Magara's PDP, Kawira Mwanagaza's Umoja na Maendeleo party and Justin Muturi's Democratic Party, to join their coalition.

The Council also mandated Kalonzo to continue engaging like-minded political formations, including DCP, PLP, Maraga's United Green Movement, and Linda Mwananchi to join them.

In Monday's council meeting, only PLP and DCP did not have party officials in the meeting with the rest of the parties sending officials or the party leaders themselves present.

Others present were former Shinyalu MP Silverse Lisamula Anami who Kalonzo said was representing the United Democratic Party, which has been associated with Linda Mwananchi.

Another notable absentee was Peter Munya, party leader of Party of National Unity PNU.

On 10th September, Azimio communicated that their plans to rebrand were in high gear.

"We have looked at the options available for rebranding the coalition into an all uniting opposition coalition. We went through that and we made certain decisions." Caroli said, thus raising the question of whether they involved all other parties before making Monday's decision.