United Democratic Alliance (Kenya)

United Democratic Alliance
AbbreviationUDA
LeaderWilliam Ruto
ChairpersonCecily Mutitu Mbarire
First SecretaryVeronica Maina
Secretary-GeneralHassan Omar
SpokespersonRob Jillo
Deputy leaderGeoffrey Rigathi Gachagua
Treasurer-GeneralJapheth Nyakundi
FounderWilliam Ruto
FoundedDecember 2020
Preceded byParty of Development and Reforms
HeadquartersHustler Plaza, Ngong Road
Nairobi, Kenya
NewspaperMuungano
IdeologyLiberal conservatism
Political positionCentre-right to right-wing
National affiliationKenya Kwanza
ColoursYellow, Green, White, Black
SloganKazi ni Kazi ("Work Is Work.")
National Assembly
144 / 349
Senate
32 / 67
Governors
22 / 47
Website
uda.ke

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is the current ruling political party in Kenya. Their slogan is "Kazi ni Kazi" (literally: A job is a job; All hustles matter)[1] and their symbol is a wheelbarrow. The party, initially called the Party of Development and Reforms, officially changed its name to UDA in December 2020.[2] The party became notable in January 2021,[3][4] and is allied with William Ruto,[5] the President of Kenya.[6][7] It tends to be more popular among the Kalenjin people.[8]

The party fielded candidates in March 2021 by-elections.[9][10] UDA nominated Ruto in the 2022 Kenyan general election, after he announced that he would leave the Jubilee Party in late 2021. Ruto picked Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate for the elections.[11]

In the 2022 general elections, UDA was able to garner 22 out of 47 seats in the Senate and 138 of the elected members of the National Assembly.[12] The party uses wheelbarrow as the party's symbol which stands for "worth, respect, and dignity of work in pursuit of an unbiased society".[13] UDA is a member of Kenya Kwanza.[14]

History

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The party was established as the Party of Action (POA) in February 2012 by Hillary Yegon in order to contest the 2013 general elections.[15] It later formed an electoral pact with the Kenya National Congress (KNC) for the 2013 general elections,[16] which was formalised as the Eagle Alliance. The alliance nominated the KNC's Peter Kenneth as its presidential candidate. In the elections Kenneth finished fourth in the presidential contest with 0.6% of the vote. The Party of Action failed to win a parliament, receiving less than 0.05% of the vote.

Prior to the 2017 general elections, the party was renamed as Party of Development and Reforms (PDR), sometimes seen as the Party of Reforms and Development. In the elections the PDR endorsed incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta,[17] also winning four seats in the National Assembly and one in the Senate.[18][19]

It officially changed its name to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in December 2020.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "About Us – United Democratic Alliance". Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  2. ^ Ng'etich, Jacob. "Ruto-allied party seeks change of identity". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  3. ^ KTN News. "DP Ruto allies launch United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party". YouTube.
  4. ^ Keter, Gideon. "Hustlers' march: Inside UDA's grand roadmap to 2022". The Star. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  5. ^ Kibor, Fred. "Rift MPs: Ruto will use UDA to contest for presidency in 2022". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  6. ^ "William Ruto is declared Kenya's next president". The Economist. August 18, 2022. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  7. ^ Abuso, Victor (2021-01-14). "Kenya: Has Deputy President Ruto joined the new UDA Party?". The Africa Report.com. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  8. ^ Hamasi, Linnet (2022-08-05). "Political Parties, Democracy, and the 2022 Kenyan Elections". Kujenga Amani. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  9. ^ KTN News. "DP Ruto's Next Party: Ruto's allies hint he will use UDA | Inside Politics with Ben Kitili". YouTube.
  10. ^ Nyamori, Jacob Ngetich and Moses. "Battle lines drawn as UDA fields candidates in by-elections". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  11. ^ "Kenya elections 2022: William Ruto picks Rigathi Gachagua as running mate". BBC News. 2022-05-15. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
  12. ^ "UDA, ODM to get lion's share of nomination slots in Parliament". Citizen Digital. 2022-08-18. Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  13. ^ "United Democratic Alliance – kazi ni kazi". Retrieved 2022-10-13.
  14. ^ Nash (2022-12-01). "Apply for the Hustler Fund Loan via your phone (USSD 254)". nashthuo.com. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  15. ^ Raphael Tuju’s Party of Action wins first trophy in the long race to State House] Daily Nation, 18 February 2012
  16. ^ Kenneth signs pact with Tuju 5 December 2012
  17. ^ Why Uhuru has accepted small parties’ support The Star, 10 April 2017
  18. ^ National Assembly: Last election IPU
  19. ^ Senate: Last election IPU
  20. ^ Ng'etich, Jacob. "Ruto-allied party seeks change of identity". The Standard. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
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