The High Court reached a ruling that declared the Amani National Congress, the United Democratic Alliance merger attempt, and the dissolution attempt to be unconstitutional. The court decided that ANC continues to exist as a registered political party with legal status. The decision, which was announced on January 22, 2026, invalidates a process that politicians had endorsed as lawful.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye reached a conclusive ruling which determined that ANC dissolution procedures and UDA merger procedures failed to meet the required legal standards for ending a political party’s existence. The court decided that the supposed decision to dissolve ANC violated both the Constitution and applicable electoral laws, which made the whole procedure invalid.
The ruling specifically invalidated a Gazette Notice that the Registrar of Political Parties published in March 2025. The court declared that notice unlawful, null, and void, ordering the Registrar to immediately update the official register of political parties to reflect ANC’s continued existence and legal status.
The judgment restores ANC registration rights to the party while also prohibiting any transfer or disposal of party property, which includes assets that party members allegedly moved after their merger attempt. The court’s protective orders apply to all persons and entities, effective from February 6, 2025, until full compliance with the ruling is achieved.
The ruling creates major obstacles for political operations, which President William Ruto and his governing party use to maintain power after they combined their two political parties into one electoral coalition for the 2027 elections. The senior officials who initiated the partnership claimed it would improve their ability to maintain political power in the coalition, but actual conditions now present challenges to their partnership agreement and constitutional rights.
According to analysts, the ruling will start new internal discussions within Kenya Kwanza, which will force UDA members and ANC leaders to rethink their organizational partnerships. Observers also note that ANC’s reestablishment as a legal party may prompt immediate questions about leadership, membership rights, and future political negotiations, which might change how opposition groups and coalition partners operate before the upcoming national election.
The court ruling demonstrates how judicial authorities maintain their responsibility to implement constitutional protections that govern political parties, specifically regarding their ability to dissolve and merge their operations. The government and political party leaders plan to provide official statements after stakeholders analyze how the court decision will affect political dynamics throughout Kenya.
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