The United Democratic Alliance from Kenya, which governs the country, has launched a political and legal challenge against a High Court ruling that reinstated the Amani National Congress as a registered political party through its declaration that the merger between ANC and UDA is nonexistent, which the judicial system deemed unconstitutional as a failed attempt to dissolve the party. The rebuttal creates a growing constitutional and electoral emergency that will change Kenyan political parties before the 2027 general election.
On Friday evening, UDA released a statement that used strong language to declare that the High Court found procedural flaws in the way the Registrar of Political Parties handled ANC’s status, but political reality shows that UDA and ANC had formed a genuine operational merger that both party leaders approved. UDA officials will evaluate all possible legal options, according to their statement, which suggests that they will proceed with an appeal or other legal actions.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye delivered the High Court ruling, which invalidated the Gazette Notice that intended to dissolve ANC by transferring it to UDA because the notice was issued without legal authority. The ruling established that no one could operate any business activities linked to assets that were allegedly handed over during the disputed time period.
The UDA response rejected the idea that constitutional violations rendered the merger agreement between parties invalid. The party claimed that its leaders had reached a preliminary agreement to work together in joint operations while backing candidates and developing strategic plans for important areas. The UDA described the ruling as an academic exercise that lacks connection to actual political situations, while it accused the court of incorrectly interpreting internal party communications.
The statement also alleged that opposition forces used the ruling to create national divisions, which would break apart the Kenya Kwanza coalition, while they presented the conflict as part of their efforts to undermine the electoral success of the coalition. The UDA party maintained its strategic partnership with ANC leaders, although the court had officially restored ANC’s legal rights.
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