High Court Stops Mudavadi's ANC From Merging with Ruto's UDA
In a significant blow to President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the High Court has declared the merger between the Amani National Congress (ANC) and UDA as unlawful and unconstitutional.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye ruled that the attempted dissolution of ANC failed to meet the required constitutional thresholds for merging political parties, effectively nullifying the process and affirming ANC's status as a duly registered political entity.
All assets previously transferred from ANC to UDA must now be returned, marking a potential setback for the ruling coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ruling stems from a legal challenge against a gazette notice issued by the Registrar of Political Parties, which had formalized the merger. Justice Mwamuye described the notice as "unlawful, null, and void," emphasizing that the merger violated ANC's own party constitution and broader constitutional provisions on political party operations.
The court further issued an injunction prohibiting ANC officials from disposing of or transferring any party assets or records, ensuring the preservation of the party's independence.
The ANC, led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, had aligned with UDA under the Kenya Kwanza coalition prior to the 2022 elections, contributing to Ruto's presidential victory. However, efforts to fully dissolve ANC and integrate it into UDA intensified in recent years, culminating in the disputed gazette notice. Proponents of the merger argued it would streamline the coalition's structure, but critics, including petitioners in the case, contended that it bypassed legal safeguards designed to protect party autonomy and member rights.
This decision echoes previous judicial interventions in Kenyan politics, such as the nullification of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in 2021, where courts have repeatedly upheld constitutional integrity over executive-driven reforms.
Political analysts suggest the ruling could force a reevaluation of alliances within Kenya Kwanza, potentially weakening UDA's dominance in Western Kenya, where ANC holds significant influence.
